What began as a standard assessment required by planning permission for new houses revealed the remains of a corn-drying kiln and a burnt pit, offering a glimpse into the agricultural practices of those who once worked this Donegal landscape.

The archaeological programme, carried out by Eoghan Kieran of Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services, divided the assessment area into four fields. While most of the land yielded little of note, Field B told a different story. The corn-drying kiln found there would have been an essential piece of agricultural technology for past communities, used to dry grain before storage or milling. These kilns were particularly important in Ireland’s damp climate, where harvested corn needed artificial drying to prevent spoilage. The accompanying burnt pit suggests additional processing activities took place at this site, though its exact purpose remains unclear.

The discovery posed an immediate challenge for the proposed housing development, as the foundation trenches for three planned houses would directly impact these archaeological features. Beyond the kiln and pit already identified, the possibility of further undiscovered deposits in the area meant that any construction work would need careful archaeological monitoring. These findings, compiled by Caimin O’Brien and recorded under licence number 06E1116, remind us that beneath the ordinary fields of rural Ireland often lie traces of centuries-old agricultural life, waiting to be revealed by the archaeologist’s trowel.