Looking Back: Neolithic village near Silliot Hill
The excavations were in advance of the development of a sand and gravel extraction facility by Kilsaran Concrete, and all finds were 'preserved by record', which meant that the in situ remains were then allowed be destroyed for the development.
A detailed report on the excavation and its results is available here from Dr Charles Mount, a consultant in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. But at the time, local pre-history buff and teacher Gerry O'Donoghue took some photographs of the site, which he recently resurrected and passed on to the Diary. He also wrote an explanation, below, of what can be seen.
As Looking Back photographs, we are very fortunate to have them, and our thanks to Gerry for helping preserve a valuable record of ancient times in the Kilcullen area. In order to enhance detail, I removed the faded colour from some of the pictures and then set them as sepia.
The figure of eight shaped hollows are what remain of grain drying kilns, writes Gerry O'Donoghue. About three feet deep, a wicker platform was mounted at the larger end. Stone baffles were placed at intervals at the neck of the pit. Grain was placed on the platform, a charcoal fire was lit at the smaller end. The entire structure was then covered in a wicker dome, plastered with clay, so that the structure was effectively a horizontal flue. An opening over the grain drew the heat from the fire over the grain, thus drying it. The stone baffles prevented sparks from reaching the grain to prevent them setting it alight.
The homestead foundation is clearly outlined. Some pictures show excavated post holes where posts supported the walls and roof. Posts were placed vertically in the trenches and were clamped in place by inserting horizontal planks between the trench walls and the posts. The spaces between the posts were filled with wattle and daub panels, sometimes reinforced with cattle dung. The roof was pitched and reached over the walls almost to the ground, to throw rainfall away from the walls. A hearth was built in the very centre of the house with a hole in the roof to allow smoke to escape. Indeed I remember in my youth, owners of thatched houses deliberately blocking the chimney having removed all their belongings. A smoky fire was lit and the smoke, unable to escape, filled the entire house. This had the effect of fumigating the house, driving out insects and rodents and the tarry smoke helped to preserve the thatch. Perhaps this is a carryover from the Bronze Age!The large trench is a partly excavated furnace. The most likely explanation for the furnace is its use in malting and brewing. Given the relatively small population of the settlement at Brownstown, it is likely that surplus beer was traded with neighbouring settlements. Did Kilcullen have the first pub in Kildare?
The picture of the stone is not particularly significant, but the stone formed part of the lining of the furnace fire pit. However, it is clearly incised with a crude cross and circle. The most likely explanation is that the incisions are medieval plough-marks but their regular appearance is puzzling.
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