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Date:May2007
Client:GalwayCountyCouncilProjectcode:NGB05
N6GalwaytoBallinasloeScheme,Contract2.Final Report on archaeological investigations at Site E2063,modernbrickkilnsatBrusk,Co. Galway
By:BrendonWilkins&AmyBuncewithacontributionbyAuliTourenen
MinisterialDirectionno.:A024/24
Excavationno.:E2063
Director:Brendon
Wilkins
Chainage:2090021150
NGR:154875/224784
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1
CONTENTS PAGE
1 Summary 3
2 Introduction 3
3 Sitedescriptionandlocation 4
4 Aimsandmethodology 4
5 Results 4
Kiln1 5
Kiln2 7
Kiln3 7
6 Discussion 8
7 Archive 10
8 References 10
ListofFiguresFigure1 E2063Locationofexcavationarea
Figure2 E2063LocationofexcavationareaandRMPextract
Figure3
E2063Topographic
Survey
Figure4 PlanofKiln1&3
Figure5 PlanofKiln2
Figure6 EastfacingsectionsofKiln1
Figure7 South andeastfacingsectionsofKiln3
ListofPlatesPlate1 PreexcavationofKiln1,northfacing
Plate2 NorthfacingelevationofbricksinKiln1
Plate3
Bricksin
south
east
corner
of
Kiln
1,
north
west
facing
Plate4 PostexcavationofsouthendofKiln1,southwestfacing
Plate5 SoutheastfacingsectionofnortheastcornerofKiln1
Plate6 PostexcavationofKiln1,northfacing
Plate7 MidexcavationofKiln2,northfacing
Plate8 MidexcavationofnorthendofKiln2,northwestfacing
Plate9 PostexcavationofsouthendofKiln2,northwestfacing
Plate10 BricksatnorthwestendofKiln2,southwestfacing
Plate11 PostexcavationofeastsideofKiln3,southeastfacing
Plate12 PostexcavationofwestsideofKiln3,southeastfacing
Appendices
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Appendix1 Contextregister
Appendix2 Findsregister
Appendix3 Sampleregister
Appendix4 Photographregister
Appendix5
Drawingregister
Appendix6 Sitematrix
Appendix7 Faunalremainsreport
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1 SummaryThisreportpresentstheresultsofarchaeologicalinvestigationscarriedoutonbehalfof
GalwayCountyCouncilpriortothecommencementofconstructionontheN6Galwayto
BallinasloeScheme.
The
work
was
undertaken
under
Ministerial
Direction
number
A024/24,
registrationnumberE2063,inthetownlandofBrusk,Co.Galway.TheMinisterforthe
Environment,Heritage&LocalGovernment,followingconsultationwiththeNational
MuseumofIreland,directedthatBrendonWilkinsofHeadlandArchaeologyLtdshouldproceedwithPhaseIIExcavation.
Contract2preconstructiontestingonthissitein2005wasalertedtothepossiblehigh
archaeologicalpotentialofthelocationbyanarchaeologicalgeophysicalsurveycarriedout
(ArchaeoPhysica2004).Testingwasabletoconfirmthepresenceofthreebrickkilns,a
potentialwellandanareaofinsituburning.
Fullarchaeological
excavation
was
conducted
on
this
site
during
May
2006.
The
three
brick
kilnswereexposed,excavatedandidentifiedasclampkilns,singleusestructuresoften
constructedclosetoboththerawmaterialandthebuildingforwhichtheywereintended.
Theclampkilnsmayreflectrelativelysmallscaleuseofthesite.Itissuggestedthatthekilns
werenotfiredonthesameoccasionowingtoadevelopmentintheconstructiontechniques
observablebetweenthethreekilns.Otherpotentialfeatures,includingthepossiblewelland
theinsituburningwereinvestigatedandfoundtobeanaturalfeatureandtheresultofrecent
fieldclearanceactivityrespectively.
2 IntroductionWorksarebeingcarriedoutalongtherouteoftheproposedN6GalwaytoEastofBallinasloe
nationalroadscheme,betweenthetownlandsofDoughiskainCountyGalwayandBeaghin
CountyRoscommon. Theproposedroadwillconsistofapproximately56kmofdual
carriageway,a7kmlinkroadfromCarrowkeeltoLoughreaandapproximately23kmofside
roads.Therewillbefourgradeseparatedjunctions,36bridgesandatollplazalocatedat
Cappataggle.
Theareaofproposedarchaeologicalinvestigationwasdividedintofourcontracts,basedon
foursectorsofapproximatelyequalextent.Theworkdescribedherewasundertakenunder
ArchaeologicalInvestigations
Contract
2.
This
covered
astretch
of
road
development
of
approximately13.2kmofdualcarriagewayand7kmofsinglecarriageway,andpassedtothe
southofAthenryandKiltullaghinagenerallyeast/westdirection.Theprojectwasfundedby
theIrishGovernmentandtheEuropeanUnionundertheNationalDevelopmentPlan2000
2006.HeadlandArchaeologyLtdwascommissionedbyGalwayCountyCounciltoundertake
theworks.ArchConsultancyundertookanarchaeologicalsurveyaspartofan
EnvironmentalImpactSurveyoftheroutecompiledbyRPSMCOSEngineeringin2005.The
kilnswerenotidentifiedbyArchConsultancyalthoughtherewereupstandingremainstobe
seen.Anaerialsurveywasalsoundertaken,aswasageophysicalsurvey(Archaeophysica
2004).ArchaeologicaltestexcavationswerecarriedoutbyM.Jones(03E1874,GalwayCountyCouncil,NationalRoadsDesignOffice).OnthebasisoffindingsfromthisworkContract2
Investigationscommenced
in
September
2005.
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3 SitedescriptionandlocationThesitewaswithinthetownlandofBrusk,approximately4.5kmsoutheastofAthenry.It
waslocatedatNGR154875/224784andbetweenchainage2090021150.Itwassituatedin
relativelyflat,
low
lying
pasture
land
bordered
on
all
four
sides
by
limestone
drystone
walls
andboundedtothesouthbythemainAthenrytoKiltullaghroad.Thesitewaspoorly
drainedandadjacenttoanactivewatercoursepronetoflooding.Theunmodifiednatural
subsoilwasaglaciallyderivedtillcomposedoffineclaywithgravelinclusions,whichwould
haveprovidedanexcellentrawmaterialforindustrialbrickmanufacture.
4 AimsandmethodologyTheobjectiveoftheworkwasthepreservationbyrecordofanyarchaeologicalfeaturesor
depositsinadvanceoftheproposedroadconstruction.
Fourexcavationareaswereopenedunderdirectarchaeologicalsupervision,andthepresence
ofthreekilnsconfirmed.Theareaswerestrippedbymachineatwhichpointthekilnswere
clearlyidentifiedasredsquarefeaturesborderedbyburntsoilandsurroundedbyabankof
redepositednaturalmaterial.Thekilnswerenumbered1,2&3inorderofexcavation.All
threekilnswerenumberedwiththesamecontextnumbers,astheircompositionwas
extremelysimilar.Theonlydifferencebetweenthekilnswasinthelayoutofthebricksand
benches.
Theresultingsurfacewascleanedandallpotentialfeaturesinvestigatedbyhand.
Archaeologicalcontextswererecordedbyphotographandonstandardisedrecordingsheets.
Plansand
sections
were
drawn
at
an
appropriate
scale.
Ordnance
Datum
levels
and
feature
locationswererecordedusingpenmapandanEDM.Environmentalsamplesweretakenon
anydepositssuitableforanalysisordating.Contexts,finds,samples,drawingsandphoto
registersfromthesiteareprovidedintheAppendices.
5 ResultsThekilnswerecharacterisedassinglefiredclamperkilns.Thesekilnsuseunfiredbricksto
formtheirstructure,andarethendismantledfollowingfiring.Kiln3wasslightlydifferentin
constructionfromkilns1&2andwaspossiblythefirstkilnonsite.Noareasofpossiblebrick
working,brick
storage
and
drying
or
on
site
accommodation
for
workers
or
kiln
minders
werediscovered.Therewerenoareasofclayquarryingwithinthelimitsoftheexcavation
butalarge,irregular,elongateddepressionwasidentifiedintheunderlyingtopographyto
the 25mtothewestofthesitewhichwaslikelytohavebeentheremnantsofabackfilled
claypit.
Thetopsoildeposit(1000)coveredtheentiresiteandwasalighttomidbrownsiltyclaywith
afewstoneinclusionsandaloosecompaction.Itwas0.20mindepth,andlaydirectlyabove
unmodifiednaturalsubsoil(1003),whichconsistedofalightbrownsiltyclaywithoccasional
limestoneinclusionsandafairlysolidcompaction.
Apotential
well
(1002)
was
identified
in
testing.
It
was
approximately
2.3m
in
diameter
and
comprisedacircularconcavedepressionof0.27mdepth.Ithadasingularfill(1001)ofmid
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orangebrownfinesiltyclaywithoccasionalpebblesandasoftcompaction.Itwasinterpreted
asapond.Itwastooshallowtohavefunctionedasawellandwasprobablyagricultural,not
associatedwiththekilns.Theareaofinsituburningwasexposedandcleanedbyhand.There
werenonegativecutfeaturesassociatedwiththecharcoalandnofindswererecovered.The
depositwasshallowandpoorlysorted;itwasjudgedtohavebeenofrecentoriginlikelyto
havebeen
the
result
of
modern
agricultural
activity.
Kiln1Kiln1measured11mnorth/southand6.5meast/west.Thetracesof12rowsofbricksrunning
east/westcouldbeidentifiedinplan.Rowsofbricksaretermedbenchesandspecific
arrangementscanbediagnosticofkilntypology.Thetenbencheswithinthecentreofkiln1
wereofdoublebrickthickness.Inthecentralbenchesthebrickswerearrangedsoaheader
(widthfacingside)ofeachbrickwasexposedtothefireinthespacesbetweenthebenches.
Thetwoedgebenchesateitherendofthekilnwereonlysinglebrickthickness.Thebricksat
theendbencheswerelaidwithbothheadersonthefacesofthebench.
Thebricksthatoccasionallyremainedattheunfiredbottomofthebencheswerelaidonedge
(narrowfacedown).Insteadofbeinglaidalternately,withtheheaderandstretcherinthe
coursesofthebenches,thecoursesatBruskwerelaidjustslightlyskewedfromtheprevious
course.ThisdifferedfromthepatternrecognisedatarecentlyexcavatedNewrath,Co.
Kilkenny(Wilkins2006;Hammond1977).Thelowercoursesofpoorlyfiredbrickswere
ridgedbythecourseofbrickslaiddiagonallyontopofthem,indicatingwhythesewereleft
insitu.Thebottombrickswouldhavestillbeenfairlywetoncelaidandtheweightofthe
uppercoursesdamagedthembeyonduse.
Theendsofthebenchesfrequentlyhadbrickslaidonedge(narrowfacedown)andafewlaid
onbed
(wide
face
down),
preserved
in
the
patterns
they
were
stacked
in
for
firing.
It
is
assumedthatthesebrickswereconsiderednotwellenoughfiredtobefunctional,probably
duetobeinglocatedattheedgeofthekiln.Theywereleftinplace,occasionallytoadepthof
threecourses.Thepatternsattheendsofthebenchesincludedbrickslaidwiththeirstretcher
faceonthebenchesface,andthispatterndifferedoneachcourse.Thepatternofbricklaying
attheedgesofthekilnwasintendedtostabilisetheendsofthebenches.Thebrickssuffering
fromacombinationofbeingattheendofthebenches,attheextremityofthekilnandinthe
bottomcoursesofthebenchesweresopoorlyfiredthattheyhadfusedtogether.
Therewasevidenceofadifferentstyleofbricksbeingplacedinthecentreofthekiln,
possiblybecausetheyrequiredahigherfiringtemperaturefortheirultimateendpurpose.
Thesebricks
were
alight
yellow
colour
and
different
to
the
mid
orange
red
colour
of
other
bricksfiredinthekiln.Thedifferentiationwasaconsequenceofthehotterfiring
temperaturesfoundinthecentreofthekilninadditiontoreducedoxygenlevels,creatinga
harder,butmorebrittleendproduct.Yellowbrickswerefoundinthemiddleofthecentral
benchesinKiln1.Thebenchesofyellowbricksweretheonlycentralbenchestobeleft
behind,beingtoopoorlyfiredtowarrantretrieval.Therewasoneredbrickamongstthem,
whichwasprobablyaccidentallyincorporatedasallunfiredclaylookingverysimilar.This
brickwasverywellfiredwhereastheyellowbrickswereoccasionallysoftinthemiddleof
thebenches.Theendsoftheyellowbencheswereconstructedofredbricks,furtherevidence
thattheyellowbrickswerehardertofireandwerenotwastedattheedgeswherethered
brickshadlessopportunitytofire.Thebottomcourseofyellowbrickswasveryheavily
ridgedby
the
upper
courses,
suggesting
that
the
yellow
bricks
may
have
been
softer
when
unfiredthantheirredcounterparts.
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Thepileofbrickrubble(1004)coveringtheremainsofthebencheswascomposedofbroken
bricksorpoorlyfiredbricksthatwereprobablydiscardedasbeingunsuitablewhilethekiln
wasbeingdismantled.Thisrubblewasgenerallyaredcolourbutalsohadelementsof
yellow,lightorangeanddarkredduetothebrokenbricksandbrickdustwithin.Ithada
moderateto
very
loose
compaction
due
to
its
composition
of
pieces
of
brick
up
to
about
half
abrickinsize(butonaveragequarterofabrickinsize),withareasofmorecompactedbrick
dustandoccasionalsilts. Thisrubblewas0.1mto0.15mthickandcoveredtheentireextent
ofkiln1.Theinterfaceswereveryclearandthebrickrubble[1004]wasalsotobefound
betweentheremnantsofthebottomtwocoursesofthebenchesaswellasontopofthem.
Someofthediscardedbricksindumplayer(1011)werenotdroppedwheretheywere
discoveredtobefaultybutweredeliberatelyflungawayfromthekilnandbecame
incorporatedintothebankednatural(1008)probablyasaresultoftrampling.
Alayerofgrittyyellowsand(005)wasrecordedbeneaththebenchesandacrossmostofthe
baseof
the
kiln.
It
was
shallow,
measuring
only
0.02m,
but
was
high
quality
coarse
sand
and
wasunlikelytohavebeenresourcedfromtheadjacentstream.Inplacesithadbecome
disturbedandmixedwiththerubble(1004)andwashardtodiscerninallsections.Itwas
compactedbuteasilyloosenedandhadnoinclusionswithinit.Inotherplacesitwasnot
presentbetweenthebenches;thiswaslikelytobearesultofheavyrakingoutofashesthat
wouldhavebeenrequiredbeforetheretrievalofthefinishedbricks.Thisdepositshedslight
ontheconstructiontechniquesofthebrickclampkilnsatBrusk.Itwasoriginallypresent
acrossthewholeofthebaseofthekiln.Itwouldalsohaveprotectedthequalityofthebottom
courseofbricksinthebenchesbycreatingabarrierbetweenthemandthepotentiallydamp
soilbelow,aswellaspreventingtheadherenceofsoilandsilts.Theuseofsandatthebaseof
thekilnsuggeststhatthebuilderswerehopefulallthebrickswouldfirewellandwerenot
resignedto
the
failure
of
the
lower
courses.
Adiscolouredsoillayer(1006)belowandaroundthekilnwasalsorecorded.Itwascausedby
directheatappliedtotheunmodifiednaturalsubsoil(1003).Itwasablacksiltyclayofloose
compaction.Afewrootshadpenetratedthelayer.Therewerealsoafewburntrootsof
charcoal,presentwithinthesoilatthetimeoffiring.Thissoillayer(1006)wasamaximumof
0.06mthickbutthethicknessofallreducedsoilswasupto0.15mthick.Layer(1010)wasa
midbrownorpurplecolouredsiltyclayofloosecompaction,0.1mdeepwithevidenceofin
situburningandwasdirectlybelowthesoillayerbelowandaroundthekiln(1006).Insome
placesthedifferentiationbetweenthesoillayersurroundingthekiln(1006)andthesoillayer
directlybeneathit(1010)wasunclearanddiffuse.Thesoillayersurroundingthekiln(1006)
wasvery
disturbed
in
places
probably
as
aresult
of
trampling
and
disturbance
during
deconstructionofthekilnsthatwouldhaveincludedrakingoutoftheashes.
Thispartialrakingoutofthelayeraroundthekiln(1006)insomeplaceswasobservedwhen
therubble(1004)betweenthebenchesextendeddeeperthanthebottomcourseofthe
benches.Alens(1007)withintherubble(1004]wasdiscoveredtowardsthenorthofkiln1.
Thelenswas0.02mthickand0.35minlength.Itwasalightyellowtowhitegrittysandof
firmcompaction.Itispossiblethatthiswasincorporatedintotherubble(1004)asthekiln
wasdismantled.Thishadanashycolourandtexture.Itmayhaveappearedasalensinkiln1
asaresultofdisturbance.Ashwouldhaveaccumulatedbetweenthebenchesandwould
haveneededtoberakedoutofthefiredkilnbeforethebrickswereremoved,apotentialside
productutilised
as
asoil
improver.
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Topsoilandsubsoilwouldhavebeenbankedaroundthekilnsastheyfired.Layer(1008)was
redepositednatural,abrownsiltyclaythatappearedidenticaltotheunmodifiednatural
layer(1003),exceptthatitincludedbrokenbricks.Thehorizonbetweentheredeposited
natural(1008)andtheunmodifiednaturallayer(1003)wasnoteasilydeterminedalthoughon
Kiln3alayerofpossiblyburntsod(1012)couldhaveformedtheinterfacebetweenthe
redepositednatural
(1008)
and
the
natural
layer
(1003).
Where
the
redeposited
natural
layer
(1008)wasbankedagainstthesidesofthekilnitlensedintothelayerofsoilsurroundingthe
kiln(1006). Theredepositednatural(1008)wouldhavebeenremovedasthekilnwas
dismantledanddiscardedbricks(1011)ofabouthalfabrickinsizebecameincorporatedwith
theredepositednatural[1008],mostlyinisolateddumpsapproximately2mfromtheedgeof
thekiln.Aseriesofpossiblestokeholesattheendsofthespacesbetweenthebencheswere
identifiedbelowtheredepositedlayerofnatural(1008),withanareaofdisturbedmaterial
(1009)withintheredepositednaturalbank(1008).Itwasamixoftherubble(1004;1011)and
reducedsoil(1006).Thebankofsoilconstructedaroundthekilnmayhavebeentocontrolair
flow,insulatethekilnandregulatetheinternaltemperature.Itwaspossiblyalsotohelpin
thestackingofthebricksinthehighercoursesofthebenches,especiallythebenchesatthe
edgesthat
were
only
single
brick
thickness
(on
Kilns
1&
2)
and
may
have
needed
extra
support.
Kiln2Kiln2measuredapproximately11mSW/NEtoNW/SEand6.50mNW/SE,andthebenches
weremostlyrecordedassurfaceburnmarksonthegroundwithonlyafewbricksremaining
attheendsofthebenches.Thesebenchesextendednorth/westtosouth/eastand,likeKiln1
thereweretenbenchesofdoublebrickthicknessandtwobenchesofsinglebrickthicknessat
thesidesofthekiln.SimilartoKiln1,thespacesbetweenthebencheswereapproximately
0.5mand
the
bricks
themselves
measured
0.24m
by
0.1m
and
0.05m
0.07m
in
depth.
FewerbricksremainedinsituinKiln2andlessrubble(1004)wasrecorded,possiblyduetoa
moresuccessfulfiringthanKiln1.Stokeholesattheendsofthespacesbetweenthebenches
wereobservedonKiln2,probablyrelatedtotherakingoutofthekilnsorthefuellingofthe
firing.Partialcolourdifferencesintheremainingmarksofbrickbenchesonthesurfaceof
Kiln2mayhavebeenduetothealmostcompleteremovalofthebricks,disturbanceand
trampling.
Kiln3Kiln3measured10.20mSW/NEand6.15mNW/SE.ThebenchesranNW/SE.Itdifferedinits
constructionfromKilns1and2bythefactthattherewere11benchesofdoublethicknessand
thespacesbetweentheendsofthebenchesincorporatedsomeformofbrickblockingofthe
stokeholes.TherudimentarynatureofKiln3waspossiblybecausethiswasthefirstkiln
firedonthissite.Asthedoublethicknessofbenchesontheedgesofthekilnhadnotfired
well,thisconstructionfaultwaspossiblyremediedinthelaterkilnconstructionofKiln1and
2.Theblockingoffofthestokeholeswasnotobservedontheotherkilnseither,anditmay
havebeenanunsuccessfulorunnecessaryattempttocontrolthefiring.Kiln3hadbeenbadly
damagedby
tree
roots
in
the
north
and
as
aresult
only
the
edges
of
the
kiln
were
excavated;
thisrevealedthatinfacttherestofthekilnwouldhavesurvivedfairlywell.
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Depositlayer(1012)wasablackredsiltyclayofloosecompactionwithorganicinclusions
andadepthof0.05m.Itwasdirectlyabovethenaturalsubsoilandwasamixed,burnt
depositresultingfromthefiringofthekilnanditsfuelsource.
6 DiscussionThemanufactureanduseofbrickinIrelandappearstohavemainlybeenabsentbeforethe
earlymodernperiod.Thereisnoarchaeologicalevidencefortheuseofthisbuildingmaterial
priortothe16thcentury,whenitwasusedinbuildingssuchastheOrmondmanorhouseat
CarrickonSuir,Co.TipperaryandBunrattyCastle,Co.Clare(Rynne2006,166).Overthe
followingcenturiesbrickproductionandusegrewfromasmall,limited,andexclusive
industrytoawidelyemployedbuildingmaterialwithlargescaleproduction.This
developmentwasgreatlyaidedbytheindustrialrevolutionofthe18thand19thcenturies
whichresultedinbrickproductionbecomingmechanised,thusincreasingthequalityand
outputof
the
product.
MostpreindustrialbrickkilnsinIrelandtooktheformofbrickclamps.Thesewere
temporaryrectangularstructureswhichwereconstructedfromunfiredbricks.Theywere
locatednearasourceofsuitableclaywhichwasoftenfoundnearrivers.Thisalsofacilitated
thetransportofthefinishedproduct.Afterextractingtheclayitwasprocessedbyremoving
allstonesandworkedtoasuitableconsistencybyaddingwaterandtramplingunderfoot
(Rynne2006,167).Brickswerethenformedtosetsizes;thesesizesdifferedslightly
dependinguponlocality.Oncethebrickshadbeenallowedtodrythebrickclampswere
constructed.Thiswasdonebystackingunfiredbricksinrows(knownasbenches)with
alternateheaderandstretcherlayersbuiltup.Inmanycasestheclampswereupto5mhigh
(Hull2005,
31).
The
gaps
between
the
bottom
rows
of
bricks
were
filled
with
fuel,
including
peatandwood,andignited.Theclampswereoftencoveredwithpeatandallowedtoburn
foranumberofdaysorweeksresultinginthefinishedproduct(Hull2005,31).
OnsmallbrickclampssuchasthosefoundatBrusk,theproductionofthebrickswasa
singular,smallscaleactivity,undertakenforthebenefitofthelocalcommunity(Rynne2006,
166).WiththeIndustrialRevolutioncamenewmechanisedmethodsofproducingbricks
whichallowedtheindustrytoincreaseinsizeandproductionoutput.Bythe1880smachine
madebrickswerethenorminIreland(Rynne2006,169).Brickswhichweremachinemade
tendedtobeofbetterqualityandofastandardsizeincomparisonwiththoseproducedby
hand,frombrickclamps.Thismechanisationledtotheconstructionoflargebrickkilns,of
whichthere
were
two
basic
types
the
intermittent
kiln
and
the
continuous
kiln.
An
example
ofanintermittentkilncanbefoundatCoalisland,Co.Tyrone.Inthecontinuouskilnsthe
dryingandfiringofthebricksbecameanuninterruptedprocess.Anexampleofthiskindof
kilncanbefoundatYoughal,Co.Cork(Rynne2006,170),andonewasalsoexcavatedby
HeadlandArchaeologyLtd.inNewrath,Co.Kilkenny(Wilkins2006).Theuseofsand,the
placementofthemoredesirableandhardertofirebrickswithinthecentreofakilnandoften
towardsthetopofthekiln,andthedifferingmethodsofsettingforeachsuccessivecourse
hasbeenrecognisedinotherkilns(Hammond1977,180).
Bruskwouldhavebeenatemporarysiteusedforthreeseparate,sequentialkilnfirings.
EvidenceforthisisbasedontheassumptionthatthedesignofKilns1and2wereadapted
followingthe
firing
of
Kiln
3,
and
that
their
close
positioning
would
make
simultaneous
use
unlikely.Thebrickswereofthesamesizeineachkilnanditcouldbesuggestedthatthekilns
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weredirectlysupplyingtheconstructionofanearbybuilding.Nobuildingcouldbe
identifiedintheimmediatevicinityusingbuildingmatchingthedimensionsofthekiln
product,butbricksofasimilarcompositionwereusedinthebuildingsconstructedtoservice
theLoughreatoAthlonebranchrailwayline(Geddes2006).Theyellowbricksproducedat
Bruskmayhavebeenintendedfordecorativearchitecturalfeaturessuchaswindowarches,
butthe
higher
temperature
these
bricks
were
fired
at
would
also
have
made
them
suitable
for
fireplacesurroundswheredirectcontactwithheatwaslikely.Thekilnswereestimatedto
havebeenabletofire20,000bricksatonce,requiring24mofclay.
Noarchaeologicalfindswererecoveredfromthesite,andthesingularfaunalelementfrom
BruskwasanalysedbyAuliTourunenofHeadlandArchaeologyLtd.andwasidentifiedasa
horsemolartooth.Itderivedfromthepileofbrickrubble(1004)inKiln2andwasinterpreted
onsiteashavingbeenincorporatedwithinthematerialthatwassubsequentlyburnt.The
osteologicalanalysisconfirmedthatthetooth,whichhadsincefragmentedintosixpieces,
waslikelytobeunrelatedtotheactivityatthebrickkilns(Tourunen2007).
7 ArchiveThesitearchiveiscomprisedofthefollowingmaterials:
Item QuantitiesContextsheets 18
Samplesheets 0
Context,PhotoandSampleRegisters 8
Photos 122
Plans 0
Sections 8
Thearchivematerialiscontainedwithinonebox.
ThearchiveiscurrentlystoredintheofficesofHeadlandArchaeology,Unit1,Wallingstown
BusinessPark,LittleIsland,Cork.Itisproposedthatfollowingcompletionofpostexcavation
thearchivewillbedepositedwithGalwayCountyCouncil.
8 ReferencesArchaeoPhysicaLtd2004ArchaeologicalGeophsicalSurveyReport.Publishedreportsubmitted
toGalwayCountyCouncil
Geddes,G2006.N6GalwaytoBallinalsoeNationalRoadScheme:LoughreaandAttymonLight
Railway(1890 1975).UnpublishedreportforHeadlandArchaeologyLtd
Hull,G.2005.BrickKilns.ArchaeologyIreland19:4Issue74
Hammond,
M.
1977.
Brick
Kilns:
An
Illustrated
Survey.
Industrial
Archaeological
Review
1:171
192
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Headland Archaeology Ltd. N6 Galway to Ballinasloe Scheme, Contract 2. E2063 Final Report
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
10
Jones,M2004Archaeologicaltestexcavationsonaringfortsite(GA96:089)inFarranablakeEast,Co.
Galway,ontherouteoftheproposedN6GalwaytoEastBallinasloeroadscheme.Publishedreport
submittedtoGalwayCountyCouncil
OS1837
Ordnance
Survey
of
Co.
Galway,
first
edition,
sheet
96,
scale
1:10560
OS18971913 OrdnanceSurveyofCo.Galway,secondeditionsheet96,scale1:10560
RPSMCOS2004N6GalwaytoEastBallinasloeEnvironmentalImpactStatement.Published
reportsubmittedtoGalwayCountyCouncil
Rynne,C.2006.IndustrialIreland17501930:AnArchaeology.Cork:TheCollinsPress.
Tourunen,A.2007.FinalreportonthefaunalremainsfromBrusk,Co.Galway.Unpublished
reportforHeadlandArchaeologyLtd.
Wilkins,B.2006.N25WaterfordBypass,Contract3.Preliminaryreportonarchaeological
investigationsatSite34inthetownlandofNewrath,Co.Kilkenny.Unpublishedreportfor
HeadlandArchaeologyLtd.
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Athenry
Galway
Figure 1 - N6 Galway to Ballinasloe Scheme, Co. Galway, Contract 2: Brusk E2063Location of excavation area
extent of backfilledclay pits
E2063
Reproduced from 2002 Ordnance Survey of Ireland 1:50,000 Discovery Series no 46,C Ordnance Survey of Ireland, Government of Ireland. Licence No. EN 0008105
= CPO
N
0 100 m
C Ordnance Survey of Ireland and Government of Ireland. Licence No. EN 0008105
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Figure 2 - N6 Galway to Ballinasloe Scheme, Co. Galway, Contract 2: Brusk E2063Location of excavation area and RMP extract
N
0 250 m
= CPO
= Excavated Area
Reproduced from 1933 Ordnance Survey of Ireland, Second Edition, Six Inch to One Mile map, Galway Sheet 96C Ordnance Survey of Ireland and Government of Ireland. Licence No. EN 0008105
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Figure 3 - N6 Galway to Ballinasloe Scheme, Co. Galway, Contra
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Kiln 1iln 1
Kiln 1
Kiln 3
Kiln 2
Possible well
2 pits
0 100 m
N
Figure 4 - N6 Galway to Ballinas
Kiln 3
treedamage
treedamage
Plate 1- Post-ex detail of brick shadows Plate 2- Post-excavation of Kiln 1
Plate 3- Relationship between kilns 1 and 2 Plate 4- Kiln 3 Post-excavation East side
P
Plate 3
Plate 4late 4Plate 4bri
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Figure 5 - N6 Galway to Ballinas
Plate 1- Kiln 2 Mid- excavation overall Plate 2- Kiln 2, 2nd row from NE, NW end moving to SE end
Kiln 1iln 1Kiln 1
Kiln 3
Kiln 2
Possible well
2 pits
0 100 m
N
Plate 2Plate 2
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1m gap between sections
1004
1007
1005 1010 and 1006
1003
1008
1004
1006
Bricks
1006
Bricks
1003
Kiln 1
Figure 6 - N6 Galway to Ballinas
S
S
N
0 4
= Location of sections(triangles point to face of sectio
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Figure 7 - N6 Galway to Ballinasloe Scheme, Co. Galway, Contract 2: Brusk E2063South and East facing sections of Kiln 3
1008
1008
10121007
1005
1006
1006
1010
1010
1003 1003
1003
1011
1011
1011 Brick Brick
Kiln 3
tree damage
treedamage
South facing section of Kiln 3
East facing section of Kiln 3
0 1 m
W
S N
E
N
0 4 m
= Location of sections(triangles point to face of section)
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E2063:1000:001
Figure 8 - N6 Galway to Ballinasloe Scheme, Co. Galway, Contract 2: Brusk E2063
Copper alloy fragment from kiln 2
0 5 cm
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Plate 1 - Pre-excavation view of kiln 1, facing N
Plate 2 - North facing elevation of bricks, kiln 1
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Plate 3 - View of brick rows in southeast corner of kiln 1, facing NW
Plate 4 - Post-excavation view of southern end of kiln 1, facing SW
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Plate 5 - Southeast facing section of northeast corner, kiln 1
Plate 6 - Post-excavation view of kiln 1, facing N
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Plate 7 - Mid-excavation view of kiln 2, facing N
Plate 8 - Mid-excavation view of northern end of kiln 2, facing NW
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Plate 9 - Post-excavation view of southern end of kiln 2, facing NW
Plate 10 - Post-excavation detail of bricks at northwestern end of kiln 2, facing SW
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Appendix1:ContextregisterFILLOF: CONTEXT TYPE
FILLEDBY:
Length(m)
Width(m)
Depth(m) Description
n/a 1000 Deposit n/a n/a n/a 0.2Light
to
mid
brown
silty
clay,
fewstones,loosecompaction.
1002 1001 Deposit n/a 2.4 2.2 0.27
Midorangebrownfinesiltycla
occasionalpebbles,soft
compaction.
n/a 1002 Cut 1001 2.4 2.2 0.27
Circularinplan,shallowsides,
concavebase,filledby(1001).
n/a 1003 Deposit n/a n/a n/a n/a
Lightbrownsiltyclay,very
occasionallimestone.
n/a 1004 Deposit n/a n/a n/a 0.10.15
Brickredrubbleamongst
remainingbrickstacks,
comprisedof
broken
bricks,
bri
dustorunfiredbrickswithinsi
clay,moderatecompaction.
n/a 1005 Deposit n/a n/a n/a 0.02
Yellowgrittysandbeneaththe
stackedbricks,loosecompactio
Probablylaidbeforetheunfired
bricks.
n/a 1006 Deposit n/a n/a n/a 0.06
Blacksiltyclayunderand
aroundthekiln,looscompactio
Eitheroriginallynatural(1003)
redepositednatural(1008)that
has
been
heat
affected
and
reduced.
n/a 1007 Deposit n/a n/a n/a 0.02
Whitegrittysand.Probablyash
thatwasrakedoutofthekiln
beforethebrickswereremoved
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n/a 1008 Deposit n/a n/a n/a n/a
Brownsiltyclay,loose
compaction.Redepositednatur
(1003)bankedagainstthekiln
sidesandtakendownafterfirin
leadingto
incorporation
of
bric
(1011).
n/a 1009 Deposit n/a 1.1 n/a 0.1
Orangeandblackmixofbrick
rubble(1004)andreducedsoil
(1006),loosecompaction.
Probablyanareadisturbedafte
firing.
n/a 1010 Deposit n/a n/a n/a 0.2
Brown(aubergine)siltyclay,
loosecompaction.Lightlyheat
affectedandprobablyafading
outof(1006).
n/a 1011 Deposit n/a n/a n/a n/a
Discarded
bricks
within
[1008]
probablyincorporatedasthe
bankwastakendownandspre
out.
n/a 1012 Deposit n/a n/a n/a 0.050.06
Blackredsiltyclay,loose
compaction.Burntorganics
within1008).
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Appendix2:FindsregisterFindno. Kiln Material Description QuantityE2063:1000:001
2
Cualloy
Copper
alloy
grooved
fragment,
0.13mx0.05m
1
E2063:1004:001 2 Tooth Burnttoothwithinkiln 1brokentoothin1bag
Appendix3:SampleregisterSampleno. Context Description QuantityE2063:001 (1004) Kiln1:Bricksamongsttherubble. 10bricks
E2063:002 Stacks Kiln1:Bricksfrombrickstacks. 10bricks
E2063:003 (1004) Kiln2:Bricksamongsttherubble. 9
E2063:004
Stacks
Kiln2:
Bricks
from
brick
stacks.
5
E2063:005 (1004) Kiln3:Bricksamongsttherubble. 6
E2063:006 Stacks Kiln3:Bricksfrombrickstacks. 7
E2063:007 Clay Naturalclayinvicinityofkilns. 2bags
Appendix4:PhotoregisterShotno. Dir. Description Date63 N Kiln1:Workingshot BC100506
64 N Kiln1:Therowsofbricksatsouth/eastcorner BC100506
65
N
Kiln1:
The
rows
of
bricks
at
south/west
corner
BC
10
05
06
66 N Kiln1:Anicerowofbricks(yellow)ateastside BC100506
67 N Kiln1:Theendofastackofbricksateastside BC100506
68 S Kiln1:Nfacingpileofbricksatnorth/eastcorner BC100506
69 N Kiln1:Workingshot BC100506
70 N Shotshowingallthreekilns BC100506
71 N Shotshowingrelationshipbetweenkilns BC100506
72 N Preexcavationshotofmound/kiln1 BC100506
73 Workingshot BC100506
74 S Workingshot BC100506
75 S [1002],quartersectionofdewhole BW110506
76
N
Workingshot
BC
11
05
06
77 W Restingshot BC110506
78 E Kiln1:Northend:Westfacingsection(1) SOD110506
79 E Kiln1:Northend:Westfacingsection(2) SOD110506
80 E Kiln1:Northend:Westfacingsection(3) SOD110506
81 W Kiln1:Northend:Eastfacingsection(1) SOD110506
82 W Kiln1:Northend:Eastfacingsection(2) SOD110506
83 W Kiln1:Northend:Eastfacingsection(3) SOD110506
84 N Kiln1:Westend:Southfacingsection(1) SOD110506
85 S Kiln1:Westend:Northfacingsection(1) SOD110506
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86 W Kiln1:Southend:Eastfacingsection(1) SOD110506
87 W Kiln1:Southend:Eastfacingsection(2) SOD110506
88 E Kiln1:Southend:Westfacingsection(1) SOD110506
89 E Kiln1:Southend:Westfacingsection(2) SOD110506
90 E Kiln1:Postexcavationofsouth/eastcorner BC120506
91 W Kiln1:Postexcavationofsouthend BC120506
92 W Kiln1:Postexcavationofnorthend BC120506
93 W Kiln1:Southend:Eastfacingsection(1) BC120506
94 W Kiln1:Southend:Eastfacingsection(2) BC120506
95 E Kiln1:Southend:Westfacingsection(1) BC120506
96 E Kiln1:Southend:Westfacingsection(2) BC120506
97 N Kiln1:Eastside:Southfacingsection&post
excavation
BC120506
98 N Kiln1:Eastside:Southfacingsection(1) BC120506
99 N Kiln1:Eastside:Southfacingsection(2) BC120506
100 N Kiln1:Eastside:Southfacingsection(3) BC120506
101 S Kiln1:Eastside:Northfacingsection(1) BC120506
102 S Kiln1:Eastside:Northfacingsection(2) BC120506
103 S Kiln1:Eastside:Northfacingsection(3) BC120506
104 W Kiln1:Postexcavationdetailofbrickshadows BC120506
105 S Kiln1:Postexcavationdetailofbrickshadows BC120506
106 N Kiln1:Largescalepostexcavation BC120506
107 N Kiln1:South/eastquadrantpostexcavation BC120506
108 N Kiln1:South/westquadrantpostexcavation BC120506
109 N Kiln1:North/westquadrantpostexcavation BC120506
110 N Kiln1:North/eastquadrantpostexcavation BC120506
111 N Kiln1:Largescalepostexcavation BC120506
112 N Kiln1:Largescalepostexcavationshowsrelationto
1&2
BC120506
NEWCARD
1 W Kiln2:Preexcavation BC160506
2 W Kiln2:Preexcavation BC160506
3 W Kiln2:Workingshot BC160506
4 E Kiln2:Workingshot BC160506
5 W Kiln2:Workingshot BC170506
6 NE Kiln2:Workingshot BC180506
7 NW Kiln2:Workingshot BC180506
8 W Kiln2:Workingshot BC180506
9 NW Kiln2:Workingshot BC180506
10 SW Kiln2:Workingshot BC180506
11 W Kiln2:Workingshot BC190506
12 W Kiln2:Mid/Postexcavationoverall BC190506
13 NW Kiln2:Mid/Postexcavationnorth/eastend BC190506
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14 NW Kiln2:Mid/PostexcavationNEcentre BC190506
15 NW Kiln2:Mid/PostexcavationSWcentre BC190506
16 NW Kiln2:Mid/PostexcavationSWend BC190506
17 N Kiln2:Mid/Postexcavationsouthcornerdamage BC190506
18 NE Kiln2:Mid/Postexcavationeastcornerdetail BC190506
19 SW Kiln2:Mid/PostexcavationNWsidedetail BC190506
20 NE Kiln2:2ndrowfromNE,NWend MH190506
21 NE Kiln2:2ndrowfromNE,NWendmovingtoSEend MH190506
22 NE Kiln2:2ndrowfromNE,NWendmovingtoSEend MH190506
23 NE Kiln2:2ndrowfromNE,NWendmovingtoSEend MH190506
24 NE Kiln2:2ndrowfromNE,NWendmovingtoSEend MH190506
25 NE Kiln2:2ndrowfromNE,NWendmovingtoSEend MH190506
26 NE Kiln2:2ndrowfromNE,NWendmovingtoSEend MH190506
27 NE Kiln2:2ndrowfromNE,SEend MH190506
28 SW Kiln2:Workingshot MH190506
29 NW Kiln2:2ndrowfromNE,bricksatNWend MH190506
30 NW Kiln2:3rdrowfromNE,bricksatNWend MH190506
31 NW Kiln2:2ndrowfromNE,bricksatNWend MH190506
32 NW Kiln2:2nd&3rdrowsfromNE,takenfromground MH190506
33 NW Kiln2:3rdrowfromNE,bricksatNWend MH190506
34 NW Kiln2:2ndrowfromNE,bricksatNWend MH190506
35 N Kiln2:Workingshot MH190506
36 E Kiln2:SectionatNEofkiln MH190506
37 E Kiln2:SectionatNEofkiln MH190506
38 E Kiln2:SectionatNEofkiln MH190506
39 W Kiln2:SectionatNEofkiln MH190506
40 W Kiln2:SectionatNEofkiln MH190506
41 S Kiln2:NfacingsectionatNWofkiln NK250506
42 S Kiln2:NfacingsectionatNWofkiln NK250506
43 S Kiln2:NfacingsectionatNWofkiln NK250506
44 S Kiln2:NfacingsectionatNWofkiln NK250506
45 W Kiln3:Southend BC250506
46 W Kiln3:South/eastcorner BC250506
47 W Kiln3:South/eastcorner BC250506
48 E Kiln3:Southend BC250506
49
E
Kiln
3:
South
end
BC
25
05
06
50 N Kiln3:Westside BC250506
51 S Kiln3:Westside BC250506
52 S Kiln3:Westside BC250506
53 N Kiln3:Detailofbrickstacksonwestside BC250506
54 E Kiln3:Detailofbrickstacksonwestside BC250506
55 S Kiln3:Eastside BC250506
56 S Kiln3:Northfacingsectionateastsideofkiln BC250506
57 S Kiln3:Northfacingsectionateastsideofkiln BC250506
58 N Kiln3:Southfacingsectionateastsideofkiln BC250506
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59 N Kiln3:Southfacingsectionateastsideofkiln BC250506
60 N Kiln3:Southfacingsectionateastsideofkiln BC250506
61 N Kiln3:Eastside BC250506
62 N Kiln3:Eastside BC250506
63 N Kiln3:Eastside,Northenddamage BC250506
64 N Kiln3:Eastside BC250506
65 S Kiln3:Detailofbrickstacksoneastside BC250506
66 S Kiln3:Postexcavationonwestside BC250506
67 SE Kiln3:Postexcavationoneastside BC250506
68 W Kiln3:Postexcavation onnorthsidewithtree BC250506
69 N Kiln3:Postexcavationonwestsidewithtree BC250506
70 W Kiln3:Eastfacingsectionofsouthslot BC250506
71 W Kiln3:Eastfacingsectionofsouthslot BC250506
72 NW Kiln3:Eastfacingsectionofsouthslot BC250506
Appendix5:DrawingregisterDrwg. Sect. Plan Description Date1 1:20 Kiln1:EfacingsectionofNendofkiln AB110506
2 1:20 Kiln1:EfacingsectionofSendofkiln NK120506
3 1:20 Kiln1:NfacingsectionofWendofkiln MH150506
4
1:20
Kiln1:
Sfacing
section
of
W
end
of
kiln
MH
15
05
06
5 1:20 Kiln2:WfacingsectionofNendofkiln MH150506
6 1:20 Kiln2:NfacingsectionofEendofkiln NK
7 1:20 Kiln3:SfacingsectionofEendofkiln LC
8 1:20 Kiln3:EfacingsectionofSendofkiln NK
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Appendix 6: Site Matrix
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Appendix7:FaunalRemainsReport
Fullarchaeological resolutionwas conductedonBrusk,Co.Galway (E2063)duringMay2006.
Threebrickkilnswereexposedandexcavated.Totalofsixfragmentsofburnthorsetoothwere
recoveredfromtherubblelayerofdiscardedbricks(1004).
Duetothesmallsizeofthematerial,nodetailedanalysiswaspossible.Itislikelythattheteeth
fragmentsdonotrelatetobrickburningactivitiesbutderivefromahorseburiedorslaughtered
nearby.
Context Species Element NISP
1004 Horse Molartooth 6
Table1.Speciesandanatomicalrepresentationofsample(NISP).