Bill-
ARS excavated several possible "stone ovens" in the Roberts Mountains near
the Eureka District at camps likely (but not certainly) associated with
Swiss-Italian charcoal burners.  The results were complex.  In addition to
a classic stone oven, two of the features turned out to be possible smokers
with internal wooden grates and another was a large earth hearth complete
with walls on two sides and a limb and earth roof.  All of these features
looked rather similar on the surface as collapsed piles of rocks and earth.
 
These materials are available in The Charcoal Industry in the Roberts
Mountains, Eureka County, Nevada.  Copies in your neighborhood should be at
the Nevada Historical Society, Las Vegas and the special collections
library at UNLV.  It is also available through ARS.  A somewhat streamlined
version of this discussion is in my dissertation, available through
University Microfilms.
-Ron
[log in to unmask]