Knowth Kerbstone K89

Knowth Kerbstone K89

The stone is greywacke, a type of sandstone composed of tightly cemented mineral grains and rock fragments. The surface of the stone is quite rough and cracked, although a few patches are smoother. Ten circular designs can be seen, but several are partly worn away, especially near the top.

At the left end of the stone there is a design made up of four circles inside one another. Just above and to the right of this is another group of three circles. The middle one is complete, while the outer two are broken where the stone dips naturally. Below this is a set of four concentric circles, with a similar group just to the right. Above these are two small single circles, and above them again is a group of three lightly carved circles with gaps.

Lower down on the right side is a set of three circles within each other, with an extra curved line beside them. Further down to the right is another group of three circles, this time carved more deeply and with gaps. Near the top right corner are three shallow curved lines forming part of a circular design that opens into a worn area of the stone. These carvings were probably more complete before the surface weathered away.

Knowth Stone Age Passage Tomb

Knowth is a Stone Age Passage Tomb in the Boyne Valley and with Newgrange and Dowth makes up the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site. Knowth is the largest passage tomb of the Brú na Bóinne complex. The site consists of a large mound (known as Site 1) and 17 smaller satellite tombs. The mound is about 12 meters (40 ft) high and 67 meters (220 ft) in diameter covering about 1 hectare (2.5 acres). It contains two passages placed along an east-west line and was originally encircled by 127 kerbstones of which 124 are still in place.

Knowth Kerbstone K89

Knowth 1 - The Large Mound

The large mound is estimated to date to around 3200 BCE, placing it in the Late Neolithic period. The passages are independent of each other, in that they lead to separate burial chambers. The eastern passage arrives at cruciform chamber, similar to Newgrange. It contains three recesses and basin stones into which the cremated remains of the dead were placed. The right-hand recess is larger and more elaborately decorated with megalithic art than the others, which is typical for Irish passage graves of this type. The western passage ends in an undifferentiated chamber (not have a definite chamber but rather a widening of the passage that defines the chamber). This chamber is separated from the passage by a sillstone. The chamber seems to have also contained a basin stone. This was later removed and is now located about two-thirds down the passageway.

Aerial view of Knowth passage tomb and smaller satellite tombs