Colonsay, Machrins

In 1977 a small stone-built structure, situated in the sand-dunes on the W coast of Colonsay about 1 km W of Machrins farm, was excavated, as it was thought that it might be a prehistoric burial-cairn (NGR NR 358935). The setting of stones proved, however, to be part of a kiln consisting of two main elements, namely a chamber, of which only part survived, and a narrow passage or extension forming the flue (fig 1). Neither element was complete and, as the structure had, in addition, been used on two distinct occasions, its precise interpretation is uncertain.

The kiln had been built in a hollow in the sand-dunes, its inner wall-face consisting of a dry-stone revetment, only one stone in thickness, standing to a height of 0-7 m. The N wall of the extension stood to a height of 0-75 m in six irregular courses; the S wall was 0-5 m high in five courses.

Ritchie 1982