
31/03/2023 – My favourite stone at Knowth I think. Phases of the moon maybe? Just wish for more time there.
31/03/2023 – My favourite stone at Knowth I think. Phases of the moon maybe? Just wish for more time there.
31/03/2023 – View from the top of Knowth
31/03/2023 – Big Knowth to the right with its wonderful kerbstones. One of the many satellite mounds to the left.
31/03/2023 – The west passage entrance. Big kerb stones surrounding the base of the mound. Standing stones in front. The ground at the entrance is covered in quartz. I do like that big stone blocking the entrance.
From ‘The testimony of tradition’ by David MacRitchie (1890).
archive.org/details/testimonyoftradi00macriala/page/140/mode/2up
Stone Vessel from Knowth, presumably hollowed out from a boulder, now in the National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street, Dublin
The western passage ‘forecourt’.
Distorted pano of the western/south-western arc of the main Knowth mound.
This stone lies where it was found at the western entrance ‘forecourt’. The excavator, George Eogan, was restrained in his interpretation and re-construction at Knowth.
Knowth western passage entrance stone.
Knowth SW18
Knowth SW23
The eastern passage entrance. There is now a large concrete bunker built just beyond the bridge over the entrance stone and inside the mound. Yikes!
08/06/2003 – Sadly, peering through the metal grille...
08/06/03 – the Mam C’s got a BA in fine art... but if she’s going to insist any modern ‘pieces’ come anywhere close to the expression inherent within this, well.... FIGHT!
The timber circle outside the east passage
Site 1 behind tombs 13 (right) and 14 (left) lit by the nearly full moon.
View of the chamber of Satellite 16 from the passage, just past the bend created when the main mound encroached on the original passage entrance. The corbelling over the chamber orthostats has been restored.
(note: the drawing for this site in Eogan’s 1986 book ‘Knowth and the Passage Tombs of Ireland’ has an incorrect drawing of this chamber, the passage is correct but the sides of the chamber are reversed.)
Knowth Tomb 13 passage, looking out from the rear of the undifferentiated chamber.
Carvings on the top surface of the capstones of the west passage of the main tomb look as fresh as if they were just carved yesterday, despite Eogan’s credible speculation that these were reused orthostats from an earlier tomb.
The Western Entrance
The ‘Sundial Stone’, subject of Dr. Euan McKie’s recent lecture at the visitors centre. As you can see, some damaged or indistinct areas make the proposed 14 month calendar hypothosis a little dubious. This damaged area was imaginatively reconstructed in a book by N.L. Thomas.
Knowth, from the field to its east
Kerbstone 79 or NW5
Kerbstone 78 or NW4
Kerbstone 23 or SE29
Soutterain disapears under a carved curb stone
The evening light shows the carvings off superbly
21/10/06, looking roughly east
The eastern enterance
A pic taken peeping over the fencing surrounding the compound on Sunday 24th Sept, day after the equinox, at 6.41pm, about 40 mins before sunset. This was the only time the sun shined, clouds obscured the actual sunset but the shadow was definitely moving towards the line down the centre of the stone. Unsurprisingly, the only planted tree I could see in the whole compound is placed directly in line with the entrance to the west passage and the setting sun....
One of the excavated passages
Looking into one of the satellite passages
At least I could get close to one of the passages
Danger! Archaeologists at work.
Inside site 4, an undifferentiated passage tomb. I like the strange light effect. The ugly manner of the construction to enable the re-building of a mound over the tomb depresses me.
A beauty from the kerb of the main mound
Detail from the Eastern passage entrance stone. I leaned over the stone and took the shot facing back in to me.
Looking South-west from the top of the main mound
The cross section of the mound, visitors cross a small metal bridge into a dug out chamber inside the mound beside what was the eastern entrance, where a small display area allows you to see how the mound was constructed, and destructed!
Oh for the lack of a fish-eye...
A blast of sunshine before the storm clouds set in completely
The reconstruction of a wooden henge structure at Knowth.
The phallic stone outside the western entrance.
A face on view of the flint macehead (copy) found in Knowth showing a distinct ‘face’ with eyes, beard, hair and an opening for the handle forming a mouth.
Macehead with human head proportions found near N recess of E chamber.
Flint, 79mm long, 325 gm.
From replica in Visitor Centre.
What the excavator called “the conical stone object” discovered near the entrance to the W tomb.
Now, what’s another name for a conical stone object everyone ...........?
25 cm long – that’s around 10 inches.
Made of sandstone (it’s actually whiter than this – forgot to change WB!).
Replica from the Visitor Centre.
Basin found in N recess of E passage and chamber. Interior.
Replica from Visitor Centre.
Composite of exterior of basin.
Composite view of kerbstone 5
Composite view of Kerbstone 15
Composite view of Kerbstone 17
K83 (NW9)
K84 (NW10)
K89 (NW15)
K94 (NW20)
Smaller tomb 12.
Undifferentiated passage/chamber running approximately S(entrance)/N.
This one has been heavily restored as only the backstone, part of the sillstone and one orthostat remained at the time of the excavation.
In this view, looking N, the surviving part of the sillstone (lighter coloured on the left) and the backstone can be seen.
Smaller tomb 14.
Undifferentiated passage/chamber running SW (entrance)/NE. A sillstone marks the start of the chamber.
A view of the sillstone looking towards the chamber.
Smaller tomb 15.
Undifferentiated passage/chamber running SW (entrance)/NE.
Smaller tomb 16.
This tomb adjoins and predates the main tomb and was originally one of the tombs with an undifferentiated passage and chamber running SW (entrance)/NE.
On the construction of the main tomb, a new entrance passage was created entering from the SE and meeting the original passage at right angles.
This is a view of that new passage looking NW to the join.
Another view of inside smaller tomb 16.
The main chamber (looking NE).
Inside smaller tomb 17.
This one has a cruciform chamber and this is a view of the passage which runs N/S.
Another view of inside smaller tomb 17.
The backstone of the E cell.
Decorated stone in smaller tomb 17
Smaller tombs 11 and 12
Smaller tombs 11 to 14
Smaller tombs 13 to 17
The West Entrance at Knowth
August 2003
12th April 2002ce:
Knowth with multiple Abbies and FourWinds.
Two of the reconstructed satellite passage tombs
serpentine
Beautiful stone / ugly bridge.
Reconstructed timber circle.
Standing stones at Knowth
Recently opened (April 2002) passage in Knowth tomb.
Meath man and UCD professor well known for his research of passage tomb builders
George Eogan, who was widely seen as one of the leading archaeologists of his generation, has died aged 91.
Professor emeritus of celtic archaeology at University College Dublin (UCD), he had a particular interest in the Neolithic and Late Bronze Age studies and was the director of the Knowth excavations for more than 40 years.
He was well known for researching the passage tomb builders of Ireland and Western Europe and authored and co-authored volumes of the Excavations at Knowth series as well as several other books.
He died on Thursday at Our Lady’s Hospice following what his family described as a long and happy life.
In a tribute, the UCD School of Archaeology said Prof Eogan’s contribution to his field and to people’s understanding of Ireland’s past was immeasurable.
Having begun his academic pursuits with a PhD on late bronze age swords, Prof Eogan would go on to lead activities at Knowth for decades.
“He used his extensive international travels and decades of connections with museums to develop a unique understanding and insights into the things of Bronze Age Europe in particular,” his former university said.
More: irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/knowth-archaeologist-prof-george-eogan-dies-aged-91-1.4733265
Excavations unearth new features from Neolithic period
New and exciting archaeological finds have been made at the Knowth tumulus over the last few months, according to archaeologists working on the site.
The passage tomb cemetery at Brú na Binne has produced some extraordinary discoveries over the decades ever since Professor George Eogan made his first tentative exploration in and around the site.
A number of previously unknown large-scale monuments in the field lying immediately to the south-east of the large mound have recently come to light.
A programme of detailed non-invasive topographical, electrical resistance and magnetometer surveys conducted by Joe Fenwick of the archaeology department of NUI Galway, in collaboration with Professor George Eogan, has revealed a complexity of sub-surface wall-footings, earth-filled ditches and post-pits. This research confirms that the archaeological footprint of Knowth extends over a far greater area than previously thought.
The nature, date and function of these ‘hidden’ monuments has yet to be fully assessed but it is likely these features represent a succession of overlapping periods of human occupation, building and rebuilding over the course of several thousand years – from the early Neolithic up to the present day.
Two features are particularly apparent in the magnetometer image, a large double-ringed oval measuring 65m across its minor axis and a sub-rectangular ditched enclosure with internal features measuring over 70m in maximum dimension.
These may represent the remains of a double-ditched enclosure of prehistoric or early medieval date, possibly a henge-like enclosure or ringfort, and a medieval or post-medieval walled enclosure, respectively.
In the absence of dating evidence and with few, if any, definitive archaeological parallels, only very tentative interpretations of these features can be provided at this early stage of investigation, the archaeologists said.
During OPW repair works to a 19th century wall, which forms a boundary along the west side of the public road, a number of significant stones that had been built into its fabric were identified. One, though undecorated, is likely to have served as kerbstone marking the base to one of Knowth’s satellite tombs.
Another is an architectural fragment, possibly part of a chapel or other prominent structure at Knowth, which once formed part a grange established in the high medieval period by the Cistercian monks of Mellifont.
Perhaps the most remarkable discovery, however, is a stone which bears a finely carved spiral in the megalithic tradition on one of its surfaces – undoubtedly a structural stone from one of the nearby small passage tombs.
An Illustrated Lecture
The Prehistoric Solar Calendar:
Is Knowth the Key?
By
Dr Euan MacKie
Honorary Research Associate,
National Museums of Scotland
at
Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre
Tuesday 25th March
7pm
Free of Charge
31/03/2023 – Knowth Neolithic passage grave. Great site, big mound with 17 smaller satellite tombs surrounding it. I really liked this place. Top Site. Only a short time allowed there on the guided tour but that meant fewer people so the vibe was good. The rock art is just amazing. It rained but it didn’t much matter, a must visit site. The very good tour guide took us round the outside of the monster mound. 127 kerbstones surround the base. The carvings are a wonder. just too much to take in on one visit. A few seem to show both waxing and waning phases of the moon maybe. Both passage entrances with good. I like the standing stone in front of each. The ground at the entrance is covered in quartz. I maybe just preferred Knowth to Newgrange. It is an amazing site. You can walk to the top of the mound. The view is nice and good for seeing Knowth’s place in the landscape. It was a very good visit.
Visited 23.5.11
We arrived at the visitor’s centre just after it opened and myself and Dafydd booked ourselves onto the tour of both Knowth and Newgrange. Karen decided to stay in the centre with Sophie, drinking coffee and talking to American tourists!
We walked over the bridge and caught the 9.15 bus to Knowth. There were only two other people on the bus – two friendly Americans.
The driver was very friendly and dropped us off near the entrance where we were met by a friendly guide – who was very good throughout our visit.
The wind was terrible. Dafydd had difficulty walking and I had to carry him most of the time.
It felt odd being here. Somewhere on my ‘wish list’ which I had seen and read so much about over the years. It all felt a little surreal, a bit like the Passage Tombs which reminded me of giant mushrooms!
I really liked this place; the decorated stones were everywhere and were fantastic. My favourite part of Knowth was the entrance opposite the ‘entrance’ you go in. (As an aside, I liked the way they have left the ditch open so you get an idea of scale – pity they never did this at Avebury). I really liked the two standing ‘male’ and ‘female’ stones along with the art work.
It is a shame you can only look up the grilled passage ways but the guide explained why this had to be so. She herself had been into the tomb proper and said it was not a great place to be – I am sure there are many reading this that would care to disagree!! She stated that this was the chamber Neil Oliver was filmed in during the recent Ancient Britain TV series. She also pointed to the spot where the funeral pyre was lit.
We walked up onto the top of the Tomb but the wind was now bordering on gale force and we didn’t stay for long.
It was soon time to catch the bus back to the visitor centre to catch the bus to Newgrange!!
We were taken to Knowth first as part of our “Newgrange Experience” and although the site was amazing, the whole tour side of it was slightly disappointing. Our guide just seemed really, really bored, which I can appreciate when you have to give the same talk 6 times a day to groups of barely interested tourists.... Our group consisted of a large number of people who didn’t really speak English, so the whole thing was just odd. However, I would’ve thought that having 2 excited, squealing women, who were obviously REALLY INTERESTED may have offered a bit of a challenge to him, but it wasn’t to be.
I loved the whole layout of Knowth with the excavated satellite tombs exposed so we could have a good old nosey at them. I also liked the fact that they had made an effort with re-erecting the timber circle but I was more than a little hacked off at the extent of what we got to see inside the tomb.
I did like the exposed wall, showing the depth of the tomb and the layers of construction (I think I am turning into a bloke, I am becoming more fascinated by engineering and construction!!)
I tried to engage the guide in some conversation, hoping he would suddenly become animated and tell us lots of amazing things, but he didn’t. Oh well, you can but try.
The carved kerb stones really were amazing to behold though.
It’s a shame you can’t get into the chamber at Knowth. The artificial room that tour parties are led into might as well be in the Visitor Centre.
The view from the top really gives you a sense of the place of this tomb within the landscape and I could spend hours looking at the rock-art on the displayed kerb-stones.
The later use of the site by Celts and Normans are also of interest, in particular the creep passage east of the main mound. Children of all ages (!) can crawl through it during the guided tours.
I’ve posted some images of kerbstones from the NW quadrant not previously posted. The references are (1) to the K numbering system used by the excavator George Eogan to number the kerbstones consecutively clockwise starting from the break in the NE (11 is at the E entrance and 74 at the W entrance) and (2) the quadrant (NW, NE, etc) numbering system used by Martin Brennan.
I’ve also posted some images of inside the smaller tombs taken in 1993 shortly after Knowth opened to the public and they had a more relaxed attitude to what you could see. These smaller tombs are not now open to the public.
Knowth inhabits a kind of half way point between the mysterious beauty of Dowth and the rampant commercialism of Newgrange. The reconstruction steers away from the flagrant conjecture of Newgrange, but is ill-considered enough to be annoying. For me the worst part is a green metal bridgeway over a couple of the kerbstones, totally unsympathetic. The reason for the bridge? Because people feel it neccessary to stand inside the monument, even if it is in a brand new chamber. Add to this the concrete support over the kerbstones and you start to get an idea of the damage that has been done to the site in order to make it tourist friendly. Access to the top of the mound is at present restricted, so it was funny to be asked by an American family one evening, on the road near Dowth, the way to ‘the mound you can stand on’. That is what people think about these sites. Stand on it. Stand in it. Run around it. Anything but feel it!
The site still retains an amount of dignity however, and is a must. The kerbstones alone make it worth the visit – the carvings are the best I’ve seen yet. At Knowth our guide (sorry I don’t know your name) was pretty good. She obviously loved the site, and at one point, out of earshot of the camcordering yanks turned to me and said “this place is just fucking amazing, isn’t it!” I’d have to agree, but it could have been so much better.
Researchers have put forward an interesting theory which may explain the apparently unusual orientation of the eastern and western passages at Knowth.
Information on Knowth including a 5000 word description by a former Tour Guide who very kindly posted his tour guide notes knowth.com/knowthtour.htm
The most comprehensive collection of Knowth photographs on the web.