Knowth Stone Age Passage Tomb

Knowth, known in Irish tradition as Cnogba, is a Stone Age passage tomb in the Boyne Valley and, together with Newgrange and Dowth, forms one of the principal sites of the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest passage tomb of the complex and is not a solitary monument. A large central mound (Site 1) is encircled by 18 smaller satellite tombs, giving the whole site the sense of a small world gathered around a sacred center.

The main mound is about 12 meters (40 feet) high and 67 meters (220 feet) in diameter, covering about 1 hectare (2.5 acres). Inside it, two passages approach from east and west but do not meet. The mound was originally encircled by 127 kerbstones, of which 124 are still in place, forming an extraordinary gallery of Neolithic carving.

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 and lead to separate burial chambers. The eastern passage arrives at a 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 a separate room, but a widening of the passage that defines the chamber. This chamber is separated from the passage by a sillstone. It seems to have contained a basin stone that was later moved and is now located about two-thirds of the way down the passageway.

Megalithic Art

Knowth contains more than a third of the total number of examples of megalithic art in all of Western Europe. Over 200 decorated stones were found during excavations at Knowth. Much of the artwork is found on the kerbstones, particularly approaching the entrances to the passages. Many of the motifs found at Knowth are typical: spirals, lozenges and concentric circles.

However, the megalithic art at Knowth contains a wide variety of images, such as crescent shapes. Interestingly, much of this artwork was carved on the backs of the stones. This type of megalithic art is known as hidden art. This suggests all manner of theories as regards the function of megalithic art within the Neolithic community who built the monuments in the Boyne Valley. It is possible that they intended the art to be hidden. It is also possible that they simply recycled the stones and reused the other side.

One stone that draws particular attention is Kerbstone 52, sometimes called the Calendar Stone. Its surface is organized into bands of crescents, circles, boxes, serpent-like lines, and other carefully arranged forms. Some researchers have wondered whether these marks record lunar cycles or other observations of time. No single interpretation has won universal acceptance, and caution is essential. What is clear is the planning, repetition, and sophisticated visual vocabulary of the carving. In raking light the designs seem to shift across the stone, a reminder that Neolithic art was made for changing daylight, shadow, and the experience of walking around a monument, not for the evenly lit page of a book.

History

Knowth preserves not one moment but a long sequence of encounters with an ancient place. Later generations returned to bury their dead, dig ditches, build dwellings, and eventually make the mound a defended settlement. There is some evidence for late Neolithic and Bronze Age activity on the site. Most of this stems from a grooved ware timber circle near the entrance to the eastern passage. Archaeological evidence suggests that this was used as a ritual or sacred area after the great mound had already fallen into disuse as a tomb. Evidence for ritual consists of a large number of votive offerings found in and around the immediate areas of the timbers that formed the circle. The Normans later used Knowth as a motte in the 12th century.

The hill at Knowth fell into disrepair, and the mound or cairn slipped, causing the entrances to both passages to be covered. The site remained practically unused for a period of two thousand years. The site was briefly used as a burial site; some 35 cist graves were found on the site during excavations. These seem to be Celtic burials.

In the late Iron age and early Christian period, it became a hill fort with encircling ditches and souterrains added. By this stage, Knowth became a habitational site for the first time. Two ditches were dug, one at the base of the mound behind the kerbstones, and the other at the top. At this stage, the entrances to both passages seem to have been discovered. Evidence for this include early Christian graffiti on the stones in the eastern chamber. Four names were carved in ogham. It seems it was at this stage that the basin stone from the western chamber was moved in an attempt to remove it and was abandoned in the passage because it got stuck. At this time, Knowth was a very significant political site and was the capital of the Kingdom of Northern Brega.

After a brief military interlude with the Norman invasion of Ireland, Knowth fell into the hands of the monks at Mellifont abbey. It seems that the mound was then again used as a grange or farm. Stone walls were built on top of the mound, and stone buildings within the walls. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the site was used mainly for agricultural purposes until most of the site was purchased by the state in 1939.

The east-west orientation of the passages at Knowth suggests astronomical alignment with the equinoxes. The alignment at Knowth does not occur today. This is due to a number of factors. First of all, the passages were discovered by later settlers and were, to some extent, destroyed or incorporated into souterrains. In other words, the original entrances to the passages were distorted or destroyed, so it is difficult to establish if an alignment existed in the first place. Secondly, the recent excavations (1962 onwards) under Prof. George Eogan resulted in the erection of a concrete slab wall inside the mounds west entrance, restricting any investigation into the possible alignments. It seems likely that the passages were intended to align.

A brief excavation of the site was carried out in 1941 by Professor Macallister. However, major full-scale excavations began on the site in 1962 and were undertaken by Professor George Eogan of University College Dublin. When his excavations began, very little was known about the full extent of the site. The entrances to the western and eastern passages were discovered in 1967 and 1968 respectively, and, slowly, the layers of activity at the site of Knowth were uncovered. The excavation has produced numerous books and reports on the findings. The archaeological excavation of Knowth East ended any chance of research on alignments when Professor George Eogan erected a concrete wall across the east-passage entrance. The most extensive research on alignments and astronomy at Knowth was carried out by American-Irish researcher Martin Brennan.

What fascinates many visitors is Knowth's abundance. There is too much art, too much history, and too much reuse for one explanation to contain it. The site asks us to leave behind the idea of a monument with a single function, and instead encounter a place that gathered meanings for millennia.

Mythology and folklore

In medieval place-lore, Cnogba was associated with Bui, wife of the solar god Lugh, who was said to have been buried here. Whether or not that tradition carries any memory of the monument's first purpose, it shows that the great mound remained imaginatively alive long after its builders and their language had disappeared.

Access to Knowth

Access to Knowth is by guided tour only. There is no direct access. All tours begin at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center in Donore, County Meath. There is no access to the grave chambers of Knowth. Visitors are able to see down the eastern passage and visit the modern interpretive room constructed just off this passage.

Private Tour to Knowth, Newgrange and the Boyne Valley

Embark on a journey through time and heritage with our exclusive private tour to Knowth, Newgrange and other captivating sites nestled in the enchanting Boyne Valley. Immerse yourself in the rich history and mystique of these World Heritage sites, where ancient wonders come to life.

Knowth and Newgrange, both designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites, stand as testament to the ingenuity of our ancestors. Dating back over 5,000 years, these Neolithic passage tombs are older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza. Step inside the chambers of Newgrange, where the winter solstice illuminates a narrow passage, casting an ethereal light on the ancient carvings within. Explore Knowth, adorned with megalithic art, and unravel the mysteries of a bygone era.

Visit the megalithic passage tombs at Knowth and Newgrange with the on-site guide. These are UNESCO World Heritage sites so you will be joining others on the official tour. Beyond the renowned Newgrange and Knowth, our private tour takes you on an intimate exploration of lesser-known gems in the Boyne Valley Day Tours.

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