Hello, listmembers,

I'm writing to ask if anyone out there is familiar with fire-proof or
heat-resistant firebrick or cementitious tiles.  We recently excavated what
might be a fragment of a stove liner or part of a stove pad from deposits
associated with the demolition of a 19th-century barn, used as a stables in
the early 20th century (we are unsure of demo date).

On one side (its face?) is imprinted the legend

NO. 4 [ ]
STEWART
RIGHT•BAC

There is evidence of heat exposure in the form of reddening on this surface;
the other side has parallel projections, or grooves, depending on how you
look at it, that would have helped in securing the tile or whatever it is to
whatever it was supposed to be attached to.  I wondered if perhaps this
might have something to do with some sort of small stove for heating a
stables or small forge for a blacksmith to heat horseshoes?  Probably way
out to lunch ideas but the best I've come up with so far.

I have high-res images of this beauty if anyone would like to have a proper
look at it from 3 angles.  Email me if you want a look-see.  Any assistance
greatly appreciated.

Bests to all,
Mary B.

-- 
Mary C. Beaudry, PhD, RPA, FSA
Professor of Archaeology & Anthropology
Department of Archaeology
Boston University
675 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215-1406