Knowth

Knowth is a major Neolithic passage tomb complex in the Boyne Valley, County Meath, and part of the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage area. The site includes a very large central mound surrounded by numerous smaller satellite tombs and is notable for its carved stones.

The main mound contains internal passages and chambers and is ringed by kerbstones and decorated orthostats. The wider complex includes many smaller burial mounds and extensive prehistoric rock art in the form of carved motifs on stones and kerbs.

Archaeological work at Knowth began in the 20th century and major excavations were carried out from the 1960s under archaeologists led by George Eogan, revealing the internal architecture and carved stones. The site was used as a passage tomb cemetery in the Neolithic and shows evidence of repeated use and modification over time.

Knowth lies in the Boyne Valley near Newgrange in County Meath, Ireland, and is reached via the Brú na Bóinne visitor centre at Donore.

• Visitor access: Guided visits are run from the Brú na Bóinne visitor centre in Donore; access to the monuments at Knowth is generally by scheduled tour.
• Age: Construction dates to the Neolithic period, roughly 3500-3000 BC, making it contemporary with other Boyne Valley passage tombs.

What to See #

• Central mound (Knowth main passage tomb): The large central mound contains multiple internal passages and is the dominant feature of the complex; it dates to the Neolithic and measures roughly 100 metres across with passages oriented to different horizons.
• Satellite tombs: A ring of smaller burial mounds and tombs surrounds the main mound, forming a wider burial complex that was used across multiple Neolithic phases.
• Megalithic art: Extensive carved and incised stones - kerbstones and internal orthostats - display motifs such as spirals and lozenges and represent one of the largest concentrations of megalithic art in Western Europe.