Ward Charcoal Ovens

Or kilns. Near Ely, Nevada, in the eastern part of the state. These beehive-shaped structures were used to make charcoal for smelting silver ore from the nearby Ward district in the late 1870s. The scrub trees (juniper and piñon pine, primarily) must have been denuded for miles around; it's claimed that the total tree crop from 5-6 acres was needed for one full charge of each oven. At least now, more than a century later, they've grown back. It's also interesting that the ovens have been there long enough that lichen is growing on the stones! The charcoal industry faded, not just because of a dearth of trees, but because the railroad made it possible to bring in cheaper coke. The left inset shows a single oven from the front; the right inset shows a view from inside out the charging portal!