Kiln, Coolbeg, Co. Wicklow

Co. Wicklow |

Kilns

Kiln, Coolbeg, Co. Wicklow

At Coolbeg in County Wicklow, a set of three possible kilns lies quietly beneath the surface, neither excavated nor removed but left exactly where they were found.

Their survival in place is the notable thing: most archaeological features of this kind are disturbed by the very development work that brings them to light in the first place.

The kilns came to attention during archaeological monitoring in 2006, a process that runs alongside ground disturbance on development sites to catch anything significant before it is lost. Monitoring is distinct from a full excavation; it is, in essence, watchful presence during construction activity. What emerged here, recorded under Excavation Licence 04E1633, were three features interpreted as possible kilns, the qualification reflecting the difficulty of making definitive identifications from partial exposure alone. Kilns of this general type, used historically for drying grain or burning lime to produce agricultural fertiliser, are not uncommon finds across Ireland, but their condition and context vary enormously. These were considered significant enough to preserve in situ rather than fully excavate and backfill, a decision that leaves the structural detail intact underground, if inaccessible. The find is cited in O'Carroll's 2009 publication.

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