Possible Kiln at Crossbank
A circular feature that may represent the remains of a kiln has been identified during the first phase of an evaluation in advance of construction of a stable block and associated car park at Crossbank Farm, South Lanarkshire. This evaluation, undertaken by Scott Jacobson of Archaeological Heritage Services Ltd, was required as a condition of planning consent by South Lanarkshire Council, as advised by the West of Scotland Archaeology Service due to the position of the site on a plateau overlooking the rivers Nethan and Clyde, in an area rich in recorded archaeological material. The first phase of this evaluation involved the excavation of trial trenches across an 8% sample of the area likely to be disturbed by the proposed development.
During the course of this evaluation, a circular feature was identified in one of the trial trenches. The main fill of this feature was a compacted tan clay with angular and sub-angular stone inclusions, though evidence of burning was also visible around its edge. Some of the stones visible within the fill of the feature also showed evidence of having been effected by heat, though no obvious concentrations were noted on the surface. The photograph below, which is taken from Archaeological Heritage Services Ltd's data structure report, shows this circular feature prior to excavation.
Following the identification of this feature during the inital phase of trial trenching, it was the subject to further excavation. This revealed that the side of the feature were cut fairly vertically, before meeting the flat bottomed base. The feature show evidence of uniform burning, with a main fill of clay and stones. Stones of this type and size were not encountered anywhere else during the evaluation, suggesting they were imported from elsewhere. As noted above, some of the stones within the main fill showed signs of having been affected by heat, though there were no obvious concentrations to suggest the presence of structural elements within the feature. Below the main fill was a layer interpreted as representing the remains of a lining of charcoal and cinders. Archaeological Heritage Services Ltd suggested that this deposit may have been an attempt at keeping the heat at a constant level within the feature. The photo below, taken from Archaeological Heritage Services Ltd's data structure report, shows this charcoal and cinder lining layer.
The layer of chacoal was also removed during the excavation. The removal of this layer exposed the underlying clay, which exhibited signs of having been exposed to high temperatures, as evidenced by a change of colour in comparison with the natural clay. The effects of this exposure to heat extended 0.05 - 0.07m down into the natural clay, and can be seen in the photograph below, which is also taken from Archaeological Heritage Services Ltd's data structure report.
An appendage was noted, extending from the western side of the circular feature. This feature was investigated further during the course of the intial phase of fieldwork, and was found to be a possible channel that continued towards the west. Though the extent of the possible channel was not fully uncovered during this phase of the fieldwork, a small slot was excavated across the feature which showed it to have vertical sides and an undulating base. The fill of the possible channel was a mottled grey with tan/brown silty clay mixed with charcoal. This may represent the remains of a possible flue.
As the evaluation had identified the presence of significant archaeological material within the area likely to be disturbed by development, a further phase of fieldwork was required on site, involving the opening of a larger area around the evaluation trench containing the possible kiln. This served to identify a number of additional features in the surrounding area. However, the report on this second phase of work has not yet been submitted.