2019:476 - NAVAN: Site A, Bailis, Meath

The final phase of monitoring and excavation of a site in Alexander Reid and Bailis, Navan, Co. Meath was carried out in 2019. This included the excavation of Area A, in the north of the site.

The remains of a medieval field system and a post-medieval farmstead were uncovered in this area, with a clay-walled cottage, yard, kiln and processing area identified. A coin retrieved from the beaten floor of the cottage dated to the early 17th century and the ceramic assemblage suggested the farmstead went out of use by the early 18th century. There was evidence to suggest that more buildings were present originally, and that the farmstead had been intentionally levelled. The site formed part of the estate lands associated with Sion House to the south, which was constructed in 1838. There is evidence across the site for land improvement and levelling associated with the estate.

The remains of the two-roomed cottage consisted of a beaten earth floor defining the outline of one room and a shallow slot trench with rounded corners defining the second room. A hearth with a base of scorched flagstones was present along the wall dividing the two rooms, opening into the room with the beaten earth floor. The cottage measured c. 6m by 5m internally. Fragments of a cobbled yard and additional buildings were also present, as were deposits of stone within some of the pits in the vicinity of the farmstead indicating structures had been dismantled.

The kiln in Area A was keyhole-shaped, with a stone-lined firing chamber and short flue, typical of the form used in the post-medieval period (Monk & Kelleher 2005). It was located within a large and shallow pit measuring 12.7m by 5.2m and was 0.5m in depth with a flat base. This served as a waste pit and probable work and storage area for the kiln. The kiln was double walled where it was free-standing within the pit and had a single internal face on one side where it was built up against the edge of the pit. The kiln measured 2.4m by 1.1m internally with the flue being 0.55m in width splaying to 1.1m in width along the external side of the structure.

Reference
Monk, M.A. & Kelleher, E. 2005 An assessment of the archaeological evidence for Irish corn-drying kilns in the light of results of archaeological experiments and archaeobotanical studies, in The Journal of Irish Archaeology, 14. Wordwell, Dublin.