Knowth Megalithic Passage Tomb

Knowth is the largest of the three great passage tombs at Brú na Bóinne, standing with Newgrange and Dowth at the centre of one of only two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Republic of Ireland. These Neolithic ceremonial monuments rank among the most important prehistoric sites in the world, and Knowth alone preserves the greatest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe.

Aerial view of the Knowth site, with the large mound surrounded by smaller satellite mounds

The Great Mound, known to archaeologists as Knowth Site 1, was constructed around 3200 BC. It occupies the highest point in the tomb cemetery overlooking the River Boyne, a massive kerbed mound ringed by nineteen smaller passage tombs. Together they form one of the densest concentrations of Neolithic burial architecture in Europe. After decades of excavation and conservation directed by George Eogan, visitors may climb to the summit. The view across the Boyne Valley is commanding.

Within the mound are two separate tombs, an eastern passage and a western passage, laid out along an east-west axis and each leading to its own burial chamber. They came to light in 1967 and 1968 during excavation. The discovery transformed understanding of the monument. The eastern passage opens into a cruciform chamber with three recesses and basin stones, similar in form to the chamber at Newgrange. The western passage ends in a rectangular, undifferentiated chamber separated from the passage by a sillstone. Kerbstones and many of the structural orthostats lining both passages are carved with megalithic art.

Knowth did not stand untouched through the ages. In the seventh century the mound was converted into a rath, a defended farmstead ringed by banks and ditches. Ogham inscriptions and later cursive graffiti scratched into the passage walls record continued human contact. Animal bone and iron objects dated to the eleventh century point to a later, domestic use. The eastern tomb may once have served as a medieval dwelling.

Great Mound at Knowth, Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site

The main mound covers approximately a hectare and is encircled by 127 kerbstones, many richly decorated with spirals, lozenges, concentric circles and crescent motifs. Over 200 carved stones were recovered during excavation, and the Knowth assemblage accounts for roughly a third of all known passage tomb art in Western Europe. Some decoration was executed on the reverse faces of stones, suggesting either reuse of older material or a deliberate intention that certain images should remain concealed.

Brú na Bóinne received UNESCO World Heritage designation in 1993 in recognition of the outstanding universal value of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth. The status acknowledges the scale, antiquity and artistic richness of these monuments, and the insight they offer into organised Neolithic society in the Boyne Valley. Alongside Skellig Michael, it is one of only two properties in the Republic of Ireland to hold World Heritage status.

Excavations at Knowth

George Eogan and his team of Archaeologists began excavating the Great Mound and the smaller surrounding mounds at Knowth in 1962, five years later they discovered the first passage and chamber. Subsequent excavation revealed a second passage and chamber and a collection of decorated stones that comprises a quarter of Western European Neolithic art.

John Rock and George Eogan at the opening to the passage of the Eastern tomb at Knowth in August 1969

George Eogan question and answer interview in June 2012, marking 50 years since the start of excavations at Knowth.

Secrets from the Grave - Irish Times article where George Eogan talks about uncovering 19 satellite tombs around the great mound at Knowth. They also found evidence of pottery, houses and flint artefacts from a pre-passage-tomb stage of early Neolithic settlement around 4000 BC.

Lunar Maps at Knowth - the carvings on orthostat 47 at the end of the chamber in the eastern passage have been identified by Philip J. Stooke as lunar maps. The right-hand section appears to be a map of the lunar maria. The remaining two sections of the carving are simpler but crudely similar to the first, sharing the overall arc shape of the maria surrounding the lunar central highlands as well as an isolated spot representing Mare Crisium.

Ceremonial Macehead found beneath the eastern chamber tomb at the great passage tomb at Knowth is one of the finest works of art to have survived from Neolithic Europe.

There are 124 surviving Kerbstones at the base of the main mound at Knowth. The kerb is roughly circular and measures 80 metres (east-west) by 95 metres (north-south). The Kerbstones are generally oblong in shape and average 2.5 metres in length.

A Virtual Tour of Knowth by Bryn Coldrick who was a real life tour guide at Knowth.

Megalithic Art at Knowth - from Minds or Moons? by Laurie Darcus.

Knowth - Fifty years of excavations by Helena King, Royal Irish Academy 2012.

Megalithic Attractions of County Meath - Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, Fourknocks & Loughcrew.

Kerbstone 5 - one of the 127 Kerbstones that encircle the base of the main mound