Monument record 11820 - LEWIS, GARENIN, CROFT 10

NB14SE 9.08 1938 4402

NB 1950 4400 Based in and around the village of Garenin, the Garenin Landscape Survey carried out its second season of fieldwork during September 1995. Excavations were carried out on six sites that were discovered during the previous season's fieldwalking.
GLS99/95 NB 1938 4402 Corn-drying kiln. Situated on croft 10, this structure is nestled against a bedrock outcrop. Its megalithic construction seemed to indicate a relatively early date of construction. This was confirmed by its relationship to a later black house in the immediate vicinity, the construction of which dates to about 1800.
Excavation revealed three periods of use, a final phase of use as a birthing chamber for lambs, and two phases of use as a drying kiln. These two phases of use as a kiln manifested themselves as a shortening and relaying of the flue floor.
Samples already taken have proved to be rich in plant macro fossils, and will allow the study of which varieties of crop were being cultivated and dried at the time of use of the kiln.
Sponsors: Garenin Trust, Department of Archaeology (University of Edinburgh), Russell Trust, Society of Antiquities, Scotland.
C Burgess and S Gilmour 1995.

REPORT DATE: 14/02/2005