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We Dig Archaeology Ireland 9. Knowth, County Meath
The archaeological site of Knowth has a complex and important 5000 years of history. The oldest passage tombs on this amazing archaeological site were constructed in the Neolithic (New Stone Age) 4000-5000 years ago (3000-2000 BC). They were a thriving farming community skilled in architecture, engineering, geology, art and astronomy. Even before the tombs were built, there is evidence of houses dating from as early as 4000 BC and tomb building began about 3300 BC and ended about 2900 BC. After this period activity seems to have declined at Knowth (e.g. no clear bronze age finds, in fact little of any siginificant archaeology) and nothing significant happens for 2000 years but by the early centuries AD of the Iron Age, burial of the dead resumed but not via cremation and bones from over 35 internments have been found.
Later, from the 8th century onwards Knowth became an important Christian site, so its religious significance was under new ownership! Huge ditches were dug to transform the site into a well defended complex. Between the 8th and 12th centuries quite a large village settlement grew up around the main mound and ancient historic records show that it was a royal seat of power - the Kings of Norther Brega. In the Norman period of the 12th-14th centuries the lands surrounding Knowth became part of the estates of the rich and powerful Cistercian Abbey of Mellifont. There is evidence of a rectangular stone building on the flat plateau of the central Neolithic mound.
These are burial mounds and the tomb complexes, which contain cremated burials, are surrounded by huge kerb stones, many of which are richly inscribed with elaborate mysterious geometrical designs. These kerb stones were transported some distance and the rocks used do not occur locally. All of these mounds were overgrown and disused for centuries, but from 1962 onwards, archaeological teams led by Professor George Eogan have gradually uncovered the 'secrets', wonders and the multi-faceted history of Knowth.
Knowth's largest mound of passage tombs was built later than some of the smaller ones because it is carefully engineered around them e.g. the left tumulus is older the large tumulus on the right.
This picture of the tombs shows the same scene as the picture above it, but standing much further away.
Snake and spiral carvings in the kerbstone rocks.
More rectangular carvings.
(above and below) The 'Sun' carving near the eastern passage entrance.
The stone lined eastern passage grave entrance, still standing true after ~5000 years.
Snake and spiral.
The roof of the grass covered mounds is built of stone corbelling where the builders used overlapping layers of large flattish rocks. The corbelled roof was then capped with a large flat capstone when the remaining 'hole' could be safely sealed. Like at Newgrange, they are still water proof today. The River Boyne is in the distant background.
Carvings of circles.
One of the most complex spiral carvings on any of the rocks at Knowth.
The upright logs mark where traces of a wooden pole complex at Knowth were found dating from ~2500 BC, so later than the adjacent corbelled stone grass covered mounds.
A stone of spirals.
A double spiral giving a pair of horns shape.
Some upright standing stones were found associated with these megalithic complexes.
Two of the outer smaller 'satellite' passage tombs at Knowth.
One of the smaller entrances to the largest mound complex. There is a small entrance like this to the other smaller tomb-tumulus mounds at Knowth. history archaeology pictures of historical and prehistoric archaeological sites from the megalithic neolithic, bronze age or iron age historic sites from antiquity we find on holiday images pictures photos © Phil Brown docspics |
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