Brick kiln from SW Jutland: the kiln, historical outline of brick production and farm building in Jutland, magnetic and luminescence dating of the kiln

Authors

• Niels Abrahamsen
• Ulrich Jacobsen
• Ulla Mejdahl
• Vagn Mejdahl

Abstract

The paper presents investigations of a brick kiln at Veldbæk east of Esbjerg excavated in connection with construction of a motorway. The kiln, a "farmers kiln", is described and the history of brick kiln construction and farm building in West Jutland is outlined. Magnetic and luminescence dating of the Veldbæk kiln are discussed and dating results presented. The magnetic and luminescence dates are 1790 ± 40 AD and 1795 ± 20 AD, respectively and these are in excellent agreement. A brick from one of the ash pits gave a luminescence date of 1550 ± 40 AD; this indicates that the brick was fired and used elsewhere prior to its use at Veldbæk.