Knowth

33 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Knowth, from 139 m² to 289,933 m² (28.99 ha, 71.64 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 29 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.

• P5RA - Rural Area (Mixed/general primary sector uses, including 'rural')
  Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, Meath · 62 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 27 May 2021Conditional

  the omission of the proposed extension as granted and the addition of a new two storey extension of approx. 128.35m2 which connects to the cottage via a glazed link, associated site works, the construction of a new septic tank and percolation area, and entrance piers and gates from the public road. I also seek permission for the retention of remedial works to the structure, external fabric, roof, windows and doors of the cottage. Significant Further information/Revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission · Meath County Council, 211016

• 20 May 2021N/a

  the omission of the proposed extension as granted and the addition of a new two storey extension of approx. 128.35m2 which connects to the cottage via a glazed link, associated site works, the construction of a new septic tank and percolation area, and entrance piers and gates from the public road. I also seek permission for the retention of remedial works to the structure, external fabric, roof, windows and doors of the cottage

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 21955

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Special Area of Conservation: River Boyne and River Blackwater SAC 002299
• Special Protection Area: River Boyne and River Blackwater SPA 004232
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Crewbane Marsh 000553

Recorded monuments

• ME019-027 Field system
  Description

  Located in a slight E-W dip or fold between a rise to the N and the ridge of Knowth c. 200m to the S, and it is also at the headwaters of a small WSW-ENE stream. An area of about 20 acres (c. 7.5 ha) has relict field banks and silted drains. The fields are generally rectangular (dims c. 30m x. c. 20m to c. 60m x c. 50m) and some are attached to the large enclosure which has a burial ground (ME019-028----), a structure (ME019-086----) and an industrial site (ME019-087----) at the centre. The enclosures (ME019-073----; ME019-075----) are within the area and both might be a part of the field system. However, a bank from the latter overlies the ring-ditch (ME019-029----). Monument visible on Google Earth photograph taken 12 November 2005. See attached images of monument taken from Google Earth. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended 29 January 2021

• ME019-028 Burial ground
  Description

  Located in a slight E-W dip or fold between a rise to the N and the ridge of Knowth c. 200m to the S, and it is also at the headwaters of a small WSW-ENE stream. This monument is designated Site M (O’Kelly 1978, 61) and comprises a circular grass-covered area (diam. 80m) defined by an earthen bank with a lot of stone (at W: Wth of base 6m; H 0.8m) separated by a fosse (at W: Wth of top 5m; max. D 0.9m) from an external bank (at W: Wth of base 5.5m; H 0.65m) (max. ext. diam. 105m). There are a number of gaps in the banks, the largest (Wth 11m) being at SSW with another (Wth 6.5m) at SSE, but none appears to be original. Within the inner bank is an eccentrically placed enclosure (diam. 67m) defined by a silted ditch (Wth c. 2-3m) surrounding its domed interior. The field system (ME019-027----) appears to be contemporary and field boundaries are attached to the large enclosure. Seasonal archaeological excavation (02E0726) between 2002 and 2004 revealed that there is a burial ground enclosed by two sub-circular ditches of 6th-10th century AD date at the centre but the relationship with the two visible outer banks is not absolutely established (Stout G & M 2008). The inner enclosure (dims 48m NW-SE; 40m NE-SW) is defined by a ditch, varying in form from V-shaped (Wth 2.45; D 0.9m) to flat-bottomed (Wth 1.95m; D 0.65m) with slight evidence of an internal bank in a sterile yellow clay (Wth 1.8m; H c. 0.2m). A blue glass bead and an Anglo-Saxon mount were in the topsoil over the ditch but charcoal samples from its base produce radiocarbon dates of 573-658 cal. AD. The burial ground may have been further delimited by a NE-SW wall footing with two outer drains at NW as no graves were found NW of these features. A total of 52 burials were exposed in the central and southern portions of the innermost enclosure but the human remains were in a very poor state of preservation. Twenty seven adults and six juveniles were recorded but of the adults only six males and three females could be identified positively. All but three of the burials were orientated approximately W-E with the head at W. One burial produced a radiocarbon date of 597-673 cal. AD. The graves were mainly in shallow, unmarked and unprotected grave-cuts, but at the SE edge of the exposed burials there were 10 slab-lined graves. The middle enclosure (max. ext. dims 74m NW-SE; 62.5m NE-SW) was defined by a ditch (at W: Wth of top 3.7m; D 1.1m: at NE: Wth of top 3.1m; D 0.84m) with traces of an inner bank (at W: Wth 4m; H 0.2m). Charcoal from the bottom of the ditch produced a radiocarbon date of 662-805 cal. AD. There were no burials in the middle enclosure but there was evidence of metalworking at SE in a spread of charcoal enriched soils (D 0.5m) with heat shattered stones and burnt clay fragments over a metalled surface. No furnaces were found but much of the cinders were inorganic in origin. Beneath the cobbled surface were three post-holes, one of which produced a radiocarbon date of 637-769 cal. AD (ibid. 45-9). A bronze baluster-headed ring-pin was found in the topsoil that covered a slab-lined grave. Radiocarbon dates suggest a gradual expansion of the earthworks outwards from c. 600AD for the innermost ditch to c. 700 AD for the middle ditch, but while absolute dates are not available the outer banks may have been constructed between the 9th and 10th centuries. The excavation produced a fine assemblage of early medieval material. Exceptional pieces were a gilt bronze Anglo-Saxon mount, a sperm whale's tooth and a Hiberno-Norse strap end. The combination of burial and metalworking in separate though related parts of the monument suggest it may have been a secular cemetery. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987), no. 1311. In this instance the entry has been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 11 November 2013 Amended: 8 June 2021

• ME019-029 Ring-ditch
  Description

  Located in a slight E-W dip or fold between a rise to the N and the ridge of Knowth c. 200m to the S, and it is c. 75m NE of the burial ground (ME019-028----). This is a circular grass-covered area (diam. 27m) defined by a fosse. It is overlain by the E bank of enclosure (ME019-075----). See attached image of monument taken from Google Earth. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of revision: 10 July 2007 Amended: 8 June 2021

• ME019-030001 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  SITUATION: This great kerbed mound (Tomb 1C) is the focal point of a large passage tomb cemetery which has undergone extensive excavation (E00070) 1962-2000 and conservation. It is at the highest point of the bend of the Boyne or the Brú na Bóinne complex of prehistoric monuments consisting of passage tombs and prehistoric earthwork monuments of a ritual nature that are being recorded through remote sensing techniques, oblique aerial photography and archaeological excavation. This tomb is situated at the W end of a shale ridge where the River Boyne, approaching from the W, is forced S by the shale and then E and N in a curve encompassing the townlands of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth, each with an extraordinarily large passage tomb mound as a focus for other monuments. The Knowth mound has at least 19 smaller passage tombs clustered around it S-W-E. In addition there is a record of another (ME019-030078-) that was somewhere in the grounds of Knowth House, just to the NE. However, satellite tombs and other features are largely absent E-S of the great mound because later agricultural activity has removed almost all archaeological material in this area. SUMMARY: This central mound, which was built and utilised over three centuries c. 3200 – c. 2900 BC, was not the first structure or even the first tomb at this location (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 44). Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide a detailed sequence of tomb construction and other activities at the complex, although the broad outline is clear. The mound is subcircular (dims 95m N-S; 80m E-W; H 10m) and has a circuit of 127 contiguous kerbstones including a few gaps, which are numbered clockwise from its junction with Tomb 16 at NE. The incorporation of this tomb into the great mound and the straightening of the kerb of the great mound to avoid Tomb 13 at N demonstrate that these tombs at least pre-date Tomb 1C. Incurving of the kerb at E and W funnels traffic to the entrances of two back-to-back passage tombs, the chambers of which are only c. 5m apart at the centre of the mound. The excavator concludes that three major phases are represented in the mound, the first being a passage tomb (1A) that was dismantled to provide a location and materials for the second phase (Tomb 1B) when the E and W chambers with short passages and their stabilising cairn (diam. 38m N-S) were built. Finally, after an interval of unknown length but thought not to be very long, the passages were lengthened to meet a new kerb, and the mound of sods intermixed with various clay and stone layers(Tomb 1C) was added (ibid. 49). Almost all the structural stones are greywacke, which was not derived from the immediate locality although there is a possible source at Clogher Head, Co. Louth. Quartz, another exotic stone used in the finishing, may have come from the Dublin/Wicklow Mountains, and the granite that was used might have been sourced in the Mourne Mountains. EXCAVATION: Such a prominent mound attracted remarkably little attention from antiquarians (ibid. 12-18), probably because it had no open ‘caves’, unlike the great mounds at Newgrange (ME019-045----) and Dowth (ME020-017----). The earliest investigation was undertaken in the 1941 when 58 kerbstones were exposed at S and at NW. At the same time a souterrain, No. 5, on the great mound and what was thought to be an entrance passage into the same mound were explored (Macalister 1943), but the latter proved to be one of the satellite tombs, No. 14. In 1962 a programme of excavation under the direction of Dr. George Eogan who became Professor of Archaeology at University College Dublin in 1979 was initiated to resolve research questions raised by the excavation of a small undifferentiated passage tomb at Townleyhall II (LH024-008----), c. 3.5km to the NE. Although few features were visible outside the great mound before work began a number of tombs were soon excavated around its N edge, with some archaeological material extending inside the kerb of the mound. The passages of the W and E tombs were discovered almost accidentally in July 1967 and August 1968 respectively, but the excavators were not the first people to have entered them in the 5000 years or so since they were abandoned for burial as the tombs had been discovered in the seventh century AD when the mound was converted into a rath (ME019-030040-), and the passages were connected to elaborate souterrains associated with an undefended settlement (ME019-030060-) in the tenth and eleventh centuries (Eogan 2012; Eogan and Cleary 2017, 42). Graffiti in both scholastic ogham and cursive script from these incursions are scratched onto stones in both tombs. The outer ends of both passages had been removed by these works when as many as 14 orthostats or large upright stones from each of the tombs could have been discarded, with the result that the original articulation of the passages with the kerb is not known. Both passages are roofed with lintels or capstones supported on the orthostats or on corbels protruding inwards over them, but pressure from the mound has forced the tops of many orthostats inwards so that much of the passages had an inverted V profile when discovered. The pressure was so great that it has cracked corbels and capstones in a few places, leaving both tombs with conservation and engineering problems that could not be overcome without destroying the integrity of the monument. Therefore, it was decided that these passages and their chambers must remain off-limits to visitors. EAST TOMB: The E tomb (total L 40.2m) is a straight passage (Wth c. 0.6-0.8m; H 1.5-1.6m) that increases in height (max. H 2.7m) as it approaches the cruciform chamber (max. dims 8.16m N-S; 5.6m E-W).The chamber has recesses at N, S and W that are covered by capstones, with a corbelled roof rising over them to the apex (max. H 6.1m) at the centre. The N or right-hand recess is the largest and has an elaborately decorated stone basin while the S recess has a smaller, plainer one. The topmost deposit in the passage and chamber was a charcoal-flecked clay with animal bones and iron material dating from the tenth – eleventh centuries AD, and this was particularly evident in the chamber where two hearths and four pits indicate regular habitation that is probably connected with the use of medieval house 4 (ibid. 59-60). The original deposit in the E tomb produced the remains of more than 170 individuals, about 130 of whom had been cremated, but most of these deposits were a mixture of burnt and unburned bone. The burials were largely confined to the recesses and were accompanied by bone and antler pins, beads, and pendants of stone and fired clay. A remarkable and highly decorated flint macehead was found amongst the primary deposits, although stone or chalk balls and Carrowkeel ware appear to be wholly absent. (ibid. 86-137) WEST TOMB: The W tomb (total L 34.2m) comprises a passage (Wth c. 0.6m; H c. 1.1m) with a slight bend to the south c. 25m in from the kerb leading to a simple undifferentiated chamber (L c. 3.2m; Wth 1.3m; H 2m). A stone basin was found at the bend in the passage but this is not its original position. There are three sillstones beyond the bend, the first guarded on the S by an orthostat (O 49) which is decorated in the rare anthropomorphic style with two owl-like eyes. This has become something of an icon for the tomb and the excavations at Knowth. Many of the kerbstones and a large number of the structural stones of both tombs are decorated with megalithic art, but full publication of this material is still awaited. (ibid. 79-86) TOMB 1A: Both tombs, or rather both chambers and the inner sections of their passages (Tomb 1B), were probably constructed at the same time and they are both secured by the same cairn (diam. c. 38m N-S; max. H c. 9m). This cairn, which had no kerb (ibid. 137-41), held the corbels and capstones in place, especially those over the E chamber where its weight was needed to keep

• ME019-030002 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 2: Situated c. 3.5m S of the great mound, Tomb 1C. This is the remains of a kerbed mound (ext. diam. c. 22m), with orthostats and sockets representing a cruciform passage tomb (L c. 13m) opening to the NE. An old ground surface was preserved within the kerb together with some of the mound (max. H 0.8m), which was a mixture of sods and boulder clay. A spread of charcoal in this produced a C14 date of 4158 +- 126 bp (2725 +- 153 cal. BC), which is clearly anomalous. Of the 42 surviving kerbstones 22 were in position NW-NE, and most were set on the old ground surface. Of the 30orthostats in the passage (L 9.5m; Wth 0.5-0.75m) only 10 (H c. 1m) survived, and of the cruciform chamber (dims c. 4m NE-SW; c. 4m NW-SE) only the stones in the NW or right-hand recess remained. This contained a stone basin (dims 1m x 0.8m; H c. 0.48m; D 0.25m) with a picked line around its inner edge, and both cremated and unburned remains were confined to the chamber area. The cremated remains consisted of two males and 12 other adults as well as four juveniles. One male and four other adults were represented amongst the unburned remains as well as those of four juveniles, and over half the remains were from the right-hand or NW recess (Buckley et al. 2017, 302-06). The artefacts included a piece of Carrowkeel ware, a chalk ball and a hoard of 16 flint flakes stashed under one of the kerbstones. Artistic motifs are present on one kerbstone (a circle), two orthostats from the passage (6 circles; chevrons and lozenges) just at the entrance to the chamber, and the backstone of the recess (circle with tail). Further work identified more displaced kerbstones, increasing the total to 68, one of which had a single motif in a simple circle, and a collapsed orthostat from the chamber had multiple circles on the underside (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 252). Bayesian analysis of two dates produces a range of 3329-2929 cal. BC and 3348-3100cal. BC and there is a slightly later outlier of 3261-2901 cal. BC from a burial in the passage, but other determinations already published (Eogan 1984, 305) are anomalous and should be disregarded (Schulting et al. 2017, 351-2). The tomb was completely reconstructed with a full mound. (Eogan 1974, 58-66, site 13; 1984, 15-27, Site 2; 1986, 67-8) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Plan of Tomb 2 From Knowth 1, Fig. 6

• ME019-030003 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 3. Located c. 2m S of the great mound, Tomb 1C, and the circuit of its kerb might have been within 2m of that of Tomb 2 at E. This is the remains of a kerbed mound (ext. diam. c. 11.25m) represented by 10 kerbstones WSW-N-E, but the S part of the kerb was destroyed by later ditches. The kerbstones were laid on the stripped ground with some packing stones, but only one has art in the form of three spirals and a circle, and this might have been re-used from Tomb 1A (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 68). Some evidence of a mound (max. H 0.4m) that was layered with sods, boulder clay and slate survived. There was no passage, but just E of the centre was the remains of a closed chamber (int. dims 3.5m NE-SW; 0.9m NW-SE) represented by sockets with only three orthostats or fragments in position. A single deposit of cremated bone representing one individual, probably an adult male, was towards the NE end. It was accompanied by a burnt antler pin with a domed head and decorated with grooves, and a flint flake. A sherd of Carrowkeel ware in the area was probably also part of the deposition. The single determination of 3624-3372 cal. BC is either from the earliest tomb in the complex or is contaminated from the pre-tomb surface, which is more likely (Shulting et al. 2017, 352-3). The tomb’s mound is partially reconstructed with the chamber open. (Eogan 1974, 41-9, site 12; 1984, 27-32, Site 3; 1986, 87-8) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Revised: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan, from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 from Knowth 1, Fig. 12

• ME019-030004 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 4. Located c. 20m SW of the great mound, Tomb 1C, and it was excavated (E000070) as part of the Knowth conservation programme. This is the remains of a kerbed mound (diam. c. 17m), of which only 10 kerbstones remain NW-NE, 3 in situ, with another one or possibly two recovered from pits. Portions of the mound (max. H 0.4m) that was layered with boulder clay, sods and shale survived. The sockets of 20 orthostats including one stump indicate an undifferentiated passage tomb (L c. 6.5m NE-SW; Wth 0.3m at NE to 1m) entered at NE, with the sockets of 3 sillstones and a closing stone. Six arcs of stones centred on the chamber extend from the passage, 3 on either side. One small deposit of cremated bone also included three unburned animal teeth. Just 2m outside the entrance a low ceremonial stone setting (ME019-030085-) paved with quartz (diam. c. 1.6m) is enclosed by 2 settings of contiguous stones (ext. diam. c. 2.8-3m), but all the elements only survived E-S-W as the rest was destroyed by a later pit. One stone, recovered from a pit on the site of the chamber, could be a sillstone or the backstone, if not a capstone, and bears megalithic art on both large faces and at two edges. One large surface, although damaged by the plough, has a set of concentric circles while an edge has two stippled lozenges and another has nested arcs. The other large surface had 3 horizontal lines of stippled lozenges overlying an incised cross-hatching that was probably an intended outline. Another lozenge overlies 7 boxed rectangles, and there are some cupmarks. Further work in 1997 uncovered a large capstone in a pit just W of the chamber but it was undecorated (Eogan 2017, 253-4).The tomb is enclosed in a reconstructed full mound. (Eogan 1974, 34-41, Site 11; 1984, 32-9, Site 4; 1986, 73-5) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Revised: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 15

• ME019-030005 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 5. This tomb is located c. 22m SW of the great mound, Tomb 1C, and it is also c. 18m NW of Tomb 4 and c. 12m S of the chamber of Tomb 6. Very little evidence of this tomb remains. It consists of 8 kerbstones, only 2 of which are in situ, but a layer of redeposited boulder clay (max. T c. 0.3m) and some shale that regularly constitutes mound material is present. Some stones that are deposited in nearby drains could have derived from the passage of a tomb. There is no other evidence of the tomb, except that one displaced stone has an incised double chevron, or perhaps a snake, with a small circle and a small rectangle. There is no reconstruction of a mound. (Eogan 1974, 30-4, Site 10; 1984, 39-41, Site 5; 1986, 88-9) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Revised: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan, from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1; _2 Tomb plan, from Knowth 1, Fig. 18

• ME019-030006 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 6. This tomb is located c. 13m W of the great mound, Tomb 1C, and is c. 20m SW of the entrance to the W passage in that mound. It is also c. 12m N of Tomb 5. This is the remains of a kerbed mound, of which only three contiguous kerbstones at SE with some mound material consisting of redeposited boulder clay (max. H 0.4m) attached to their inner sides remained. However, the sockets of orthostats representing a cruciform passage tomb(L 8m plus E-W; span 4m N-S) opening at E were also recorded. The right-hand recess (int. dims 2m N-S; c. 1m E-W) is the largest and contained the remains of several individuals with portion of a ring, a pendant and a flint. This recess had the cremated remains of three adults and three juveniles as well as unburned remains of one adult and one juvenile, while the left-hand recess had cremated remains from one adult and one juvenile (Buckley et al. 2017, 307--08). Large sherds of a Grooved ware vessel were also in this recess. The deposit was overlain by two intrusive inhumations from the first millennium AD (Eogan 2012, 48-51). Three samples from the right-hand recess produce a tight date range of 3080-2920 cal. BC, and it may be one of the later tombs if the deposits are primary, which is not certain (Shulting et al. 2017, 353-4). The orthostats are now marked in concrete and the mound is partially reconstructed. (Eogan 1974, 24-30, Site 9, 73-80; 1984, 41-5, 312, Site 6; 1986, 68-9; Eogan and Roche 1997, 211) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Revised: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 20

• ME019-030007 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Located c. 120m W of the great mound, Tomb 1C, on a SW-facing slope but c. 20m from the crest of the steep slope down to the River Boyne which is c. 160m to the SW and c. 50m lower at a point where it changes its course from W-E to N-S as it enters the bend of the Boyne. The tomb was identified by the tips of 3 kerbstones, and it was excavated (E000070) as part of the Knowth programme. It comprises the remains of a kerbed mound (diam. c. 10m) with only 5 surviving kerbstones N-E, and the associated mound was represented by a black shale-like soil (max. H 0.2m). Beneath this were the sockets of 12 orthostats representing an undifferentiated passage tomb (dims c. 5m E-W; c. 1m N-S) opening at E. The only artefact recovered was a double hollow-scraper in the mound. Some kerbstones are preserved in situ and others are marked with concrete posts, but there is no reconstruction of a mound and this monument is outside enclosure of the Knowth national monument. (Eogan 1968, 331-6, Site 6; 1984, 45-8, Site 7; 1986, 75) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Revised: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan, from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 23

• ME019-030008 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 8:Located just 2m W of the great mound, Tomb 1C, and c. 12m NW of the entrance to the W tomb in that mound. The remains of a mound (diam. c. 13m; max. H 0.5m) of redeposited boulder clay covered with some shale is defined by a kerb of 12 surviving kerbstones N-E-S, with an indent at the entrance to the destroyed tomb at SE. The W part of its mound and kerb have been removed without trace. There is evidence of an undifferentiated passage tomb (L 6m plus; Wth c. 0.3-1.2m) opening at SE which was represented by the sockets of 11 orthostats, and some of the stones were present but displaced. Two kerbstones bear simple megalithic art, a light circle and a vague heart-shape. Further work in 1994 identified three orthostats from sockets at the outer edge of the passage (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 254-5). The mound is fully reconstructed. (Eogan 1974, 18-24, Site 8; 1984, 48-52, Site 8; 1986, 75) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Revised: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 from Knowth 1, Fig. 25

• ME019-030009 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 9:Located c. 20m NW of the great mound, Tomb 1C.This is the remains of a mound(surviving dims 11.9m N-S; 10.8m E-W; max. H 0.4m) of redeposited boulder clay with some overlying shale, but there are no surviving kerbstones. There are 28 orthostat sockets representing a cruciform passage tomb (total L 6.8m plus) opening to the E. There was at least one sillstone between the passage and chamber (int. dims c. 4m x 3.8m) and the old ground surface survived within the kerb. There were two cremation deposits in the end recess representing four adults and two juveniles, but the remains of two unburned juveniles were also present (Buckley et al. 2017, 308-10). Five sherds of Beaker pottery and 15 flints were recovered, mostly from disturbed contexts. A fireplace pre-dating the tomb produced two sherds of Carrowkeel ware. An extended inhumation dating from the first millennium AD was inserted into the N recess (Eogan 2012, 52-3).Two radiocarbon dates of 3083–2903 cal. BC and 3332–2910 cal. BC are reasonably in agreement (Schulting et al. 2017, 354). The mound is partially reconstructed and the open chamber is marked with concrete posts. (Eogan 1984, 53-8, Site 9; 1986, 69-70) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 28

• ME019-030010 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 10: Located c. 18m NW of the great mound, Tomb 1C, and just NE of Tomb 9. Two kerb stones but no evidence of a mound on the stripped subsoil are all that survived of this tomb. The stump of an orthostat with packing stones and some cremated remains, together with a single socket indicate its site. The mound is partially reconstructed and two stone sockets are marked with concrete posts. (Eogan 1974, 18, Site 7; 1984, 59-63, Site 10; 1986, 75-7) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 31

• ME019-030011 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 11: Situated c. 15m NW of the great mound, Tomb 1C. An arc of 13 contiguous kerbstones NW-E indicates the remains of a kerbed mound (diam. c. 11.5m), with isolated kerbstones at S and W and displaced stones E-S. It is probably the site of a passage tomb, although there was only a little mound material in some brown clay, and no orthostats or sockets of a passage or chamber were present. Eighteen flints were found but only one showed any signs of re-touching. A small N-S trench (L 4.6m; Wth c. 0.4m; max. D 0.37m) outside the tomb at S contained five scrapers and 9 sherds of Western Neolithic pottery (Eogan 1968, 324-31, Site 5). The mound is completely reconstructed with replacement kerbstones. (Eogan1984, 63-6, Site 11; 1986, 89) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Revised: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 33

• ME019-030012 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 12: Situated c. 17m NW of the great mound, Tomb 1C, and just 2m NE of Tomb 11. This is the remains of a kerbed mound(ext. diam. c. 14.7m) of dark shale material (max. H 0.75m)lying over a cairn around the central tomb and the original humus. The kerb is represented by 6 kerbstones in situ N-E and 4 displaced kerbstones at SW. At the centre one orthostat and the sockets of 13 others represent an undifferentiated passage tomb (L 6.75m plus; Wth 0.3-1.5m) opening to the S. The backstone had fallen into the chamber and the sillstone had broken off. A small sample of cremated remains with fragments of two bone pins were in the chamber. A kerbstone has two motifs of concentric circles, and the backstone of the tomb has stippling. A dressed ovoid sandstone piece (L 0.5m; diam. c. 0.3m) with pick-dressed lines cut around both ends and broader vertical rills in the central area was found just outside the kerb and could be a religious fetish or idol. The mound is completely reconstructed. (Eogan 1968, 315-23, Site 4; 1984, 66-72, Site 12; 1986, 77-8) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 16 September 2020 See the attached images: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 35 _3 Sandstone idol

• ME019-030013 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 13: Situated immediately N of the great mound, Tomb 1C. The kerb of Tomb 1Cadopts a straighter course here which suggests that the Tomb 13 mound might pre-date that of the great mound. It consists of the remains of a mound (diam. c. 12.5m) of sods (max. H 0.8m) defined by contiguous kerbstones surviving E-S-W, although 7 of these at SW were altered in antiquity to accommodate Tomb 1C. There are 8in situ orthostats and 12 sockets representing an undifferentiated passage tomb, (int. dims 5.6m NNW-SSE; Wth 0.3-1.2m) opening to the SSE. The tomb has at least 1 sillstone, and a small portion of cremated material was recovered inside the sillstone. One stone from the tomb and 4 of the kerbstones bear megalithic art, usually consisting of single motifs, although one kerbstone has a spiral on top and two concentric circles on the outer face. A stone from a nearby later drain with a concentric circle and a possible spiral might also be from this tomb. The mound is completely reconstructed with replacement kerbstones. (Eogan 1968, 310-14, Site 3; 1984, 72-9, Site 13; 1986, 78-9) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 38

• ME019-030014 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 14. Located 2-3m N of the great mound, Tomb 1C, and c. 2m E of Tomb 13. Prior to excavation stones on the surface suggested that its passage might have led to the main tomb of Tomb 1C, and the passage was excavated by R. A. S. Macalister (1943). This monument constitutes the remains of a kerbed mound(ext. diam. c. 13.2m) of boulder clay (max. H 0.6m) defined by a kerb of 20 surviving kerbstones that are absent NNW-E. A well-preserved passage tomb is divided by a sill stone into a passage (int. L 3.4m NNE-SSW; Wth 0.7-1.1m) of small orthostats (dims c. 0.3m x 0.6m) that is entered at SSW and a rectangular chamber (int. dims 1.67m x 1.6m) of larger stones (L 1.73-2.95m; H 0.9-1.78m). A roofstone of the chamber was displaced, and unburned bone from one adult was in the tomb, although cremated remains from the earlier excavation are not now traceable (Buckley et al. 2017, 310-11). Five stones from the tomb and three from the kerb have megalithic art. Orthostat 8 from the chamber is the most prolific with two large faces completely covered with motifs, although most are lightly picked doodles. Prominent motifs include a spiral, single and multiple circles both complete and incomplete, cupmarks, chevrons, lozenges, triangles, zigzags, and serpents. The motifs are more boldly executed on what is the outer face. The mound is completely reconstructed. (Eogan 1968, 305-09, Site 2; 1984, 80-9, Site 14; 1986, 79-80) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 41

• ME019-030015 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 15: Situated c. 10m NNE of the great mound, Tomb 1C, at a point where some of the kerbstones of Tomb 1C are missing. This is the remains of a mound (diam. c. 20m; max. H 0.9m) of sods and boulder clay contained within a stone boundary (diam. c. 16m) that was 2-2.5m inside the kerb. The mound was laid on the old humus and it was topped with shale and more subsoil extending to the kerb, with further shale on top around the kerb. Both the kerb and arc of stones only survive E-WSW. Within is a well-preserved passage tomb (total L 9.2m; Wth 0.4-1.5m) of at least 21 orthostats, mostly set in sockets. The passage is divided by three sillstones and is entered at SW. The larger orthostats are furthest from the entrance. There were two deposits of cremated bone in the two innermost segments of the passage which had two flints and two bone beads, but the mound produced 26 flints and sherds of Carrowkeel ware. Three males, one female and one other were represented amongst the cremated remains together with four juveniles and there were fragments from one unburned adult (Buckley et al. 2017, 311-12). Twenty six kerbstones survive, 19 in position, and a further five are indicated by packing stones. Two orthostats and the innermost sillstone of the tomb have art, usually confined to a single motif, a circle, spiral or lozenge, and two kerbstones have art, including one with five concentric arcs. The third segment of the tomb contained an almost complete Bell Beaker with what was thought to be a secondary cremation, and 3 inhumations (Eogan 2012, 54-56), one of which produced a C14 date of cal. AD 428-582 (Schulting et al. 2017, 354), were inserted into the innermost section of the passage. Bayesian analysis of the other four C14 dates suggests a period of use between 3200-2900 cal. BC, but none of the sampled cremations was associated with the Beaker (ibid. 354-5). The mound at S and W was disturbed by the construction of Souterrain 7. The mound is completely reconstructed and provided with natural light. (Eogan 1984, 90-109, 308-12, Site 15; 1986, 80-2) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 45

• ME019-030016 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 16: Located at the NE edge of the great mound, Tomb 1C, which this monument predates. Tomb 1 lacks a kerb at this point but the junction between the two mounds is obscured by the fosse of the rath (ME019-030040-) that penetrated the subsoil, and no displaced kerbstones are present. The mound(ext. diam. 8.6m) was constructed on the original humus and consists of a cairn (diam. c. 4.25m) retained by drystone walling (H 0.5m) around the passage, and this is covered by a mound of redeposited boulder clay with shale on top that extends as far as the kerb. However, on the W side it is overlain by mound material from Tomb 1C. The redeposited boulder clay has 5 fragmentary stone settings within it at 2 principal levels that are concentric with the kerb. Sixteen kerbstones and the sockets of three others are recorded NNW-E-SSE, although most kerbstones sat on the humus, and 4 displaced stones from the kerb might also be present. A spread of charcoal from the mound produced a C14 date of 4399 +- 67 bp (3104 +- 146 cal. BC). Artefacts, including Carrowkeel ware, were found in both the pre-mound humus and in the mound itself. The mound contains a NNE-SSW passage tomb (L 3.8m plus; Wth 0.6-1.1m), which originally opened at the SSW end and was divided into 3 segments by 2surviving sill stones. The innermost of these, together with two wall orthostats that are set perpendicular to the axis of the passage, create an end-chamber. The orthostats are larger towards the chamber end, and some stones redeposited in the mound and chamber could have served as corbels and capstones for the passage. Cremated burials in five stratified deposits, separated by flags and representing at least 16 individuals, were in the chamber and the inner segment of the passage. Nine adults, two of whom were male and one female, as well as four juveniles were amongst the cremated remains, and three infants were in an unburned state (Buckley et al. 2017, 312-3). Time lapses between deposits are indicated by silt layers. A secondary passage (L c. 3.1m; Wth c. 0.5m) was constructed NW-SE at the S end of the original passage to allow continued access to this tomb after the great mound had been built and truncated the original passage. This secondary passage is built on a base deposit of the primary mound (H 0.5m), and it was walled by a kerbstone of Tomb 1 at SW and a drystone wall at NE. Its outer portion (L 1.9m) was blocked by a transverse stone, and a sillstone separates its inner portion (L 1.17m) from the original passage but this secondary passage was unroofed and had no burial deposits. Art was present on 3 orthostats of the original passage including the two oddly set stones outside the chamber that have art on their hidden faces. It is thought that two of these could have been re-used from Tomb 1A (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 66). The motifs are zigzags and arcs, and one multiple chevron. Two possible corbels from the chamber area have lightly incised chevrons and lozenges. An inhumation dating from the first millennium AD was inserted into the innermost section of the passage (Eogan 2012, 56-7). During conservation work in 1989 the remaining portions of the mound were excavated when flint debitage and sherds of five Carrowkeel ware vessels, thought to be derived from the Middle Neolithic habitation of Zone D pre-dating the tomb, were found in the mound material together with flakes of greywacke, probably derived from dressing the kerbstones (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 255-6). Bayesian analysis of the six dates available from the primary burials of this tomb suggest a starting date of 3150–2930 cal. BC ending at 3075–2925 cal. BC, which provides a period of use of c. 280 years (with 68% certainty) for this complicated structure (Schulting et al. 2017, 355-9), and accords well with a date of 3335-2900 cal. BC from charcoal in the mound. The mound is completely reconstructed. (Eogan 1984, 109-32, Site 16; 1986, 82-7) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan, from Knowth 1, Fig. 50

• ME019-030017 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 17: This is situated c. 3m from the kerb of the great mound of Tomb 1C, at ENE, and c. 12m from the entrance to the E tomb of that mound. Its mound partly overlies a spread of exotic stones in front of the entrance to Tomb 1 (ME019-030087-), and the mound would also impinge on that of Tomb 18 which is just to the SE, but it is thought that the latter is the earlier although the evidence is not conclusive. This monument consists of the remains of a kerbed mound (diam. c. 15m) built on the original humus which survived partially at SE (max. T 0.12m), and charcoal from this layer produced radiocarbon determinations of 4875 +- 150 bp (3669 +- 185 cal. BC) and 4795 +- 185 bp (3555 +- 218 cal. BC). The mound (max. H 0.7m) consisted of boulder clay with sods and was delimited by 21 surviving kerbstones that were laid on the sod SE-W-NW. Within the mound was a N-S passage that was entered at S and ended in a ruined cruciform chamber. The passage (surviving L 4m; Wth 0.7-1m) began 1.6m inside the kerb at S but there was no immediate evidence of missing orthostats, a blocking stone, or of sillstones. The passage has 13 orthostats increasing in height towards the chamber but almost all leaned to the W. Seven sockets at the outer end of the passage (total L 5.6m) were later identified, connecting the passage with the kerb (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 256-7). The chamber (int. dims 3.6m E-W; 3.2m N-S) was destroyed by the digging of a drain and a later pit but it is represented by one surviving orthostat and the sockets of six others. There were 3 small scatters of cremated material within the homogenous fill that is derived from the mound, but two of the contexts are disturbed. The undisturbed sample was small and represented one adult (Buckley et al. 2017, 313-14). Some pottery sherds and a few flints were recovered from uncertain contexts. There is art on five orthostats but the motifs are limited to chevrons, zigzags, and lozenges, and there are two spirals on one stone. Two radiocarbon dates from the pre-tomb old ground surface provide a wide range of 3755-3050 cal. BC, but the human remains provide dates of 3328-2921 cal. BC and 2874-2634 cal. BC, which is either one of the longest periods of use of any tomb or might include a re-use for burial at a late stage (Schulting et al. 2017, 357-8). The mound is completely reconstructed with natural light in the chamber provided by a skylight. (Eogan 1984, 132-146, Site 17; 1986, 70-2) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 56

• ME019-030018 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 18: This tomb is located c. 14m ENE of the kerb of the great mound, Tomb 1C, close to the entrance of the E tomb, and it is just SE of Tomb 17. This mound, of unknown dimensions, impinges on that of Tomb 17, but it is thought that this is the earlier and it was built on the original humus. It is represented by five kerbstones and two sockets with a partial setting of stones inside the kerb S-SW. The scant remains of a cruciform passage tomb (total L c. 7.6m) opening at the S is represented by 15 sockets, four with the stumps of orthostats still present. There were burial deposits in the area of the E and W recesses, that in the W being covered by a flagstone that had been trimmed at the edge like a stone basin. Two adults in a cremated state together with an unburned adult and infant were in the left-hand or W recess, and there was one cremated adult in the E recess (Buckley et al. 2017, 314-15). Above the basin was a deposit with charcoal, sherds of a flat-based pottery vessel that is Grooved ware, flints, and part of a human skull. One orthostat from the end recess bears megalithic art on 3 faces, and the motifs include a spiral, parallel lines, circles and shallow cupmarks. A single date of 3328-2928 cal. BC was derived from under the floorstone in the west recess which must be unconnected with the Grooved ware above the stone as must a date of 2452-1954 cal. BC from a mixed deposit thought to have been associated with the same sherds (Shulting et al. 2017, 358). The mound is partially restored with some kerbstones marked by concrete posts. (Eogan 1984, 146-56, 312-13, Site 18; 1986 72-3; Eogan and Roche 1997, 211-12) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 5, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 56

• ME019-030019 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This habitation site (Structure B), located to the W of Tomb 1 and beneath Tomb 8, is part of Eogan's Phase 2 Later 'Western' Neolithic Complex (Eogan and Roche 1997, 6) which is dated to c. 3600-3500 cal. BC with the aid of Bayesian analysis (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 39-40). The excavated remains consisted of a subrectangular area (ext. dims 12.3m N-S; 10.1m E-W; int. dims 10.7m N-S; 9.1m E-W) defined by a continuous trench with a possible entrance gap (Wth c. 1m) at the NE corner. The trench was re-dug (L 8.4m; Wth 0.8-1.5m; max. D 0.97m) at W where it was filled with occupation debris and 11 post-holes were recorded in its base. An area of ash with a spread of burnt earth is probably a hearth close to the centre and a small area of paving (dims 2.4m x 1.7m) and some pits are also in the interior. About 45 vessels of Later Western Neolithic pottery have been recovered from this area and the enclosure (ME019-030021-) (Eogan and Roche 1997, 43-6). (Eogan 1984 211-19) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 House plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 75

• ME019-030020 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This habitation site is part of Eogan's Phase 1 Earlier 'Western' Neolithic Complex - Zone A (Eogan and Roche 1997, 6-7), which has been provided with a start date of 3725-3635 cal. BC and an end date of 3650-3565 cal. BC or a round date of c. 3600-3500 cal. BC with the aid of Bayesian analysis (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 39-40; Schulting et al. 2017a). Earlier Western Neolithic material was found in four areas N and E of Tomb 1C and perhaps running beneath it. Zone A is located inside the kerb of the tomb at N and SE of Tomb 14. It was in poor condition as it had been cut by the ditch of the rath (ME019-030040-). Three slot-trenches (Wth 0.27-0.3m; D 0.12-0.14m), which could not be fully exposed, enclose a subrectangular area (dims c. 9m NW-SE; c. 5.5m NE-SW). There are post-holes in two of the trenches and traces of two hearths at the centre. Radiocarbon dates of 5080 +- 20 (3975-3789 cal. BC) and 5040 +- 15 bp (3984-3784 cal. BC) were recovered from material in one of the trenches. About 60 flints including flakes and scrapers along with sherds from 20 vessels of Western Neolithic ware were recovered, mostly from the slot-trenches. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 7-17) True location: ITM (699624, 773490) Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 16 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 House plan from Knowth 2, Fig. 2

• ME019-030021 Enclosure
  Description

  This is part of Eogan’s (1984, 219-39) Phase 2 Later Western Neolithic material found W of the great mound, Tomb 1C, which is now dated to c. 3600-3500 cal. BC with the aid of Bayesian analysis although no C14 dates relate directly to it (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 39-40). Two slightly curved palisade trenches (L 58m) 8m to 11m apart were recovered in excavation to the SW of main mound. Where excavated they are roughly aligned N-S but are curving to the W at either end before they are eroded away. Closely-set post-holes and packing stones are evident in the trenches. If the trenches were completely circular, and they seem to have been destroyed elsewhere by ploughing, the area enclosed would have a maximum diameter of c. 120m with its centre far to the W of the excavated portions. There is a cobbled entrance (Wth 3.2m) through the excavated part of the W line at one point, but in this area the E trench cuts through the possible Neolithic house(ME019-020019-) so it is thought that the palisaded enclosure post-dates the house, and a kerbstone of Tomb 8 is placed over the line of the E trench. Some pits, hearths and work surfaces could be associated with the enclosure. Artefacts manufactured from pebble flint, largely scrapers, were recovered as well as a plentiful supply of Western Neolithic pottery. (Eogan 1984, 219-39; Eogan and Roche 1997, 44-5) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 16/09/2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Enclosure plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 7

• ME019-030022 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This habitation site is part of Eogan's Phase 1 Earlier 'Western' Neolithic Complex - Zone B (Eogan and Roche 1997, 17-20), which is provided with a start date of 3725-3635 cal. BC and an end date of 3650-3565 cal. BC or a round date of c. 3700-3550 cal. BC with the aid of Bayesian analysis (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 39-40; Schulting et al. 2017a). Earlier Western Neolithic material was found in four areas N and E of the great mound, Tomb 1C, and running beneath it. Zone B (dims 26m x 20m) is located outside the entrance to the E tomb. It contained sections of 4 slot-trenches (4-7) which may represent the foundations for at least one house. Trenches 4 and 5 were c. 5m apart with the remains of a hearth between them and they were partly under the mound of Tomb 1C. The area produced sherds of at least two vessels of Western Neolithic type and flints, including a leaf-shaped arrowhead. A sample of charcoal returned a radiocarbon date of 5345+- 20 bp (4324-4045 cal. BC). (Eogan and Roche 1997, 7, 17-21) True location: ITM (699657, 773433) Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 16 September 2020 See attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 from Knowth 2, Fig. 3

• ME019-030023 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This Neolithic House site, No. 2, is part of Eogan's Phase 3 Decorated Pottery complex: Domestic activity - Zone E (Eogan and Roche 1997, 6, 54-8) is situated between Tombs 1C and 15. This Phase 3, now called Middle Neolithic, is associated with the construction of the tombs and dated to c. 3500-2900 cal. BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 41). Neolithic House 2 could consist of a circular area (diam. 6.5m) defined by an arc of 12 stake-holes N-E that was only partially excavated and was covered by a thin humus. No habitation layer was discovered associated with it and it partially occupies the same ground as Neolithic House 3, which it is thought to pre-date. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 54-8) True location: ITM (699639, 773490) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 House plan from Knowth 2, Fig. 8 (Right)

• ME019-030024 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This Neolithic House site, No. 3, is part of Eogan's Phase 3 Decorated Pottery complex: Domestic activity - Zone E (Eogan and Roche 1997, 6, 58), which is between Tombs 1C and 15. This phase, now called Middle Neolithic, is associated with the construction of the tombs and dated to c. 3500-2900 cal. BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 41). Neolithic House 3 was recorded as a circular building (diam. 7m) defined by an arc of 21 stake-holes W-N with a hearth located slightly off-centre. It was only partially excavated but a thin layer of habitation material with flint waste flakes and some burnt bones of cattle and pig were present beneath a thin humus. The house post-dates and partially overlies Neolithic House 2. Artefacts from beneath Tomb 15, including a sherd of Carrowkeel ware and some flints are associated with it. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 54-8) True location: ITM (699636, 773491 Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 2:1 _2 House plan from Knowth 2, Fig. 8

• ME019-030025 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This Neolithic House Site, No. 1, is part of Eogan's Phase 3 Decorated Pottery complex: Domestic activity - Zone D, which is now called Middle Neolithic. It is associated with the construction of the tombs and dated to c. 3500-2900 cal. BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 41). House 1 was located underneath the mound of the main passage tomb, Tomb 1C, at NE and was just W of Tomb 16 that was partially incorporated into the same mound. It was only partially excavated and its NE edge is cut by the ditch of the rath (ME019-030040-) but it consists of the remains of a possible circular building (diam. c. 7m) containing two hearths. It was built on the bare subsoil and was succeeded immediately by material from the outer part of the great mound. Its habitation layer produced some cattle bones as well as some flints and sherds from 4 decorated vessels. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 52-4, 65) True location: ITM (669634, 773481) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 House plan from Knowth 2, Fig. 8

• ME019-030026 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This Neolithic House Site, No. 4, is part of Eogan's Phase 3 Decorated Pottery complex: Domestic activity – Zone F, which is located between Tombs 15, 16, and 17. This phase, now called Middle Neolithic, is associated with the building of the tombs and dated to c. 3500-2900 cal. BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 41). House Site No. 4 consisted of an arc (diam. c. 5.5m) of 7 stake-holes in an area with 109 stake-holes but no hearth or habitation layer was identified. Including Neolithic House 5, the finds were few but there included sherds from at least 2 decorated vessels and 6 Carrowkeel ware vessels. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 58-60) True location: ITM (699650, 773483) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 House plan from Knowth 2, Fig. 10

• ME019-030027 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This Neolithic House Site, No. 5, is part of Eogan's Phase 3 Decorated Pottery complex: Domestic activity - Zone F, which is located between Tombs 15, 16, and 17. This phase, now called Middle Neolithic, is associated with the building of the tombs and dated to c. 3500-2900 cal. BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 41). House site No. 5 consisted of an arc (diam. c. 6m) of 6 stake-holes in an area with 108 stake-holes. Including Neolithic House 4, the finds were few but there included sherds from at least 2 decorated vessels and 6 Carrowkeel ware vessels. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 58-60) True location: ITM (699645, 773480) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020

• ME019-030028 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This Neolithic House Site, No. 6, is part of Eogan's Phase 3 Decorated Pottery complex: Domestic activity - Zone G, which is situated beneath Tombs 1C and 17. This phase, now called Middle Neolithic, is associated with the building of the tombs and is dated to c. 3500-2900 cal. BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 41). This house is in a layer of habitation material that produced evidence of 8 hearths and 3 houses, and provided 2 radiocarbon dates – 4875 +-150 BP (3990-3350 cal. BC) and 4795 +- 185 BP (3990-3040 cal. BC). House site No. 6 was located partially beneath the mound material of Tomb 1C, and it consisted of an arc (diam. 6m) of 15 stake-holes with a central oval hearth. The zone produced fragments of 6 decorated pottery vessels and some flints. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 60-5) Ture location: ITM (699650, 773462) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 2:1 _2 House plan from Knowth 2, Fig. 12

• ME019-030029 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This Neolithic House Site, No. 7, is part of Eogan's Phase 3 Decorated Pottery complex: Domestic activity - Zone G, which is situated beneath Tombs 1C and 17. This phase, now called Middle Neolithic, is associated with the building of the tombs and dated to c. 3500-2900 cal. BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 41). This is in a layer of habitation material that produced evidence of 8 hearths and 3 houses, and provided 2 radiocarbon dates – 4875 +-150 BP (3990-33350 cal. BC) and 4795 +- 185 BP (3990-3040 cal. BC). House Site No. 7 was located beneath the mound of Tombs 17 and 18, and it consisted of an arc (diam. c. 6m) of 10 stake-holes, with a stone-based hearth that was located off-centre. The zone produced fragments of 6 decorated vessels and flints. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 60-5) True location: ITM (699662, 773464) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 House plan from Knowth 2, Fig. 12

• ME019-030030 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This Neolithic House Site, No. 8, is part of Eogan's Phase 3 Decorated Pottery complex: Domestic activity - Zone G, which is situated beneath Tombs 1C and 17. This phase, now called Middle Neolithic, is associated with the building of the tombs and dated to c. 3500-2900 cal. BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 41).This is in a layer of habitation material that produced evidence of 8 hearths and 3 houses, and provided 2 radiocarbon dates – 4875 +-150 BP (3990-33350 cal. BC) and 4795 +- 185 BP (3990-3040 cal. BC). House site No. 8 was located beneath the mound of Tomb 17, and it consisted of an arc (diam. c. 6m) of 11 stake-holes with a central hearth and there were three other hearths in the vicinity. At SW it partly covers some the same ground as the NE edge of House No. 6. The zone produced fragments of 6 decorated vessels and flints. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 60-5) True location: ITM (699655, 773465) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 House plan from Knowth 2, Fig. 12

• ME019-030031 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This Neolithic House Site, No. 9, is part of Eogan's Phase 3 Decorated Pottery complex: Domestic activity - Zone H, which includes an area beneath the entrance of Tomb 1C East, where 6 hearths have been recognised. This phase, now called Middle Neolithic, is associated with the building of the tombs and dated to c. 3500-2900 cal. BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 41). In this zone house site No. 9 was located c. 18m SE of the entrance area to the E tomb and is entangled with House Site No. 10 just to its SW. It consisted of a fairly complete circle (diam. 3.75m) of stake-holes, but no hearth or occupation layer is associated with it. The zone produced evidence of at 8 vessels as well as flints. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 65-71) True location: ITM (699665, 773435) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 House plan from Knowth 2, Fig. 14

• ME019-030032 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This Neolithic House Site, No. 10, is part of Eogan's Phase 3 Decorated Pottery complex: Domestic activity - Zone H, which includes an area beneath the entrance to Tomb 1C East where 6 hearths have been recognised. This phase, now called Middle Neolithic, is associated with the building of the tombs and dated to c. 3500-2900 cal. BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 41). This house site was located c. 20m SE of the entrance area to the E tomb and is entangled with House Site No. 9 just to the NE. It consisted of an arc (diam. c. 4.5m) of stake-holes S-W-N, but no hearth or occupation layer is associated with it. The zone produced evidence of at least 8 vessels as well as flints. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 65-71) True location: ITM (699663, 773436) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 House plan from Knowth 2, Fig. 14

• ME019-030033 Timber circle
  Description

  This timber-circle is part of Eogan's Phase 4 Grooved Ware Complex, and it is located c. 12m E of the entrance to Tomb 1C East and c. 5m S of Tomb 18 (Eogan and Roche 1997, 101-23). This phase is now called Late Neolithic, dating to c. 2800 - c. 2500 BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 42). This feature consists of a subcircular wooden structure (dims 8.37m x 7.15m) defined by 19 post-holes, each with a post-pit, placed c. 0.65m apart. There is an entrance defined by 2 larger posts and a projecting porch of 2 larger posts on the E side. In addition the porch is flanked by three posts or pits on either side in a line parallel with the circumference of the circle. Nine small stones (diam. c. 0.15m) are placed 2-3m from each other outside the circle of posts SE-W-NE but these are not centred on the timber-circle and could be a natural occurrence. Just inside the circle of posts were 4 larger posts forming a square. Artefacts were added to the fills of the post-holes, and in the case of the central posts little pockets or annexes, rich in artefacts, were added to the backfills. The posts were cut through a humus sealing Neolithic material and the timber-circle is associated with a black earth that underlay habitation material from Beaker Concentration D (ME019-030035-). Over 500 sherds representing at least 45 vessels of Irish Grooved ware were recovered from the post-holes as well as a polished stone axehead and flints, with a greater proportion of the flints than usual derived from chalk flint. Both the flints, dominated by scrapers, and the flat-based pottery are concentrated in the 4 internal posts and the posts of the entrance and those of the circle opposite the entrance. It is likely that the structure was an unroofed ritual structure, perhaps with lintels connecting the posts (H 2m plus). It was probably built and the artefacts deposited with the posts in a single phase, and the posts were allowed to decay in situ rather than being burnt or dug out. Radiocarbon dates of 4130 +- 35 bp (2739 +- 94 cal. BC) and 3985 +_ 35 bp (2519 +- 39 cal. BC) were derived from samples in 2 different post-holes. The timber-circle is reconstructed. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 103-223) Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plans and images: _1 from Google Earth aerial photograph taken 12 July 2013. _2 Plan from Knowth 2, Fig. 21 _3 View from E

• ME019-030034 Habitation site
  Description

  Five concentrations of Beaker pottery, part of Eogan’s Phase 5 – Final Neolithic / Beaker complex dating to c. 2500 – c. 2200 BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 42) are recorded around Tomb 1C. This is Concentration A, which is just S and SE of Tomb 15 and is associated with shallow pits, post-holes and 2 hearths (Eogan and Roche 1997, 197-203, 223-28). No house plans were discernible but it was a domestic area, although the cremated remains of an adult and child with an almost complete Breaker had been inserted in the passage of Tomb 15 (Eogan 1984, 308-12). Forty six sherds representing about 12 vessels of Bell Beaker form were recorded from the habitation layers. Grooved ware also occurred in this concentration but it is not possible to demonstrate any stratigraphic precedence for either ceramic group. (Eogan 1984, 245-60; 322; Eogan and Roche 1997, 197-206, 223-32) True location: ITM (699655, 773493) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Plan of the Cemetery from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Distribution of sherds from Knowth 2, Fig. 42

• ME019-030035 Habitation site
  Description

  Five concentrations of Beaker pottery, part of Eogan’s Phase 5 – Final Neolithic / Beaker complex dating to c. 2500 – c. 2200 BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 42) are recorded around Tomb 1C. This is Concentration D, which is SE of the entrance to the E tomb. It is a subrectangular area (dims 21m NE-SW; 12.5m NW-SE) with a humus that partly rises on to the primary slip from the great mound. It has one hearth and a few shallow pits and post-holes but no pattern can be discerned. As well as flints it produced c. 2000 small sherds of Beaker ware representing about 80 vessels but they were too fragmentary to provide profiles. About 280 sherds were decorated, mainly with incised lines of cord and comb decoration. (Eogan 1984, 286-304; Eogan and Roche 1997, 232-41). True location: ITM (699665, 773440) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013. Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Features at Concentration D from Knowth 2, Fig. 50

• ME019-030036 Habitation site
  Description

  Five concentrations of Beaker pottery, part of Eogan’s Phase 5 – Final Neolithic / Beaker complex dating to c. 2500-2200 BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 42), are recorded around Tomb 1C. This is Concentration E, which is a rectangular area (dims 16.5m NE-SW; 10m NW-SE) between the great mound and Tomb 2. The possible structure (ME019-030037-) is against the kerb of the mound but there were also 8 small pits and 2 post-holes. All the pottery was recovered outside the structure and was not associated with any features. There were 100 flints, including a barbed-and-tanged arrowhead, and 446 sherds of Beaker pottery from about 38 vessels were also recovered. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 241-51) True location: ITM (699646, 773405) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Pottery distribution at Concentration E from Knowth 2, Fig. 52

• ME019-030037 Structure
  Description

  Five concentrations of Beaker pottery, part of Eogan’s Phase 5 – Final Neolithic / Beaker complex dating to c. 2500 – c. 2200 BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 42) are recorded around Tomb 1C. This is within Concentration E, which is a rectangular area (dims 16.5m NE-SW; 10m NW-SE) between the great mound and Tomb 2. Seven stake-holes formed a small triangular structure (dims 4.5m E-W; 2.7m N-S) against the kerb of the great mound but the Beaker pottery came from outside it to the E. (Eogan and Roche 1997, 241-3) True location: ITM (699641, 773407) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Pottery and post-holes at Concentration E from Knowth 2, Fig. 50

• ME019-030038 Habitation site
  Description

  This is Concentration C, an area of 34 square metres that is S of the great mound and situated between Tombs 3 and 4. No features are connected with a collection of pottery, but just to the N was an area of cobbling, a small pit and a small area reddened by burning. Amongst the 176 stone objects recovered were a chert leaf-shaped arrowhead and a flint barbed-and-tanged arrowhead. Over 1000 sherds of Beaker pottery were recorded representing about 80 vessels. The principal form appears to be of the general Bell Beaker type. Cord and comb impressions, along with incision, are the commonest methods of decoration in horizontal bands. (Eogan 1984, 270-86; Eogan and Roche 1997, 228-32) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plan: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1

• ME019-030039 Habitation site
  Description

  Five concentrations of Beaker pottery, part of Eogan’s Phase 5 – Final Neolithic / Beaker complex dating to c. 2500 – c. 2200 BC (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 42) are recorded around Tomb 1C. This is Concentration B, an area of about 18 square metres of a thin habitation layer just E of Tomb 6 on the W side of the great mound. Amongst the flints recovered were 29 artefacts, principally blades and rounded scrapers. Around 300 sherds of Beaker pottery were recorded representing about 30 vessels that appear to be Bell Beakers. (Eogan 1984, 260-69; Eogan and Roche 1997, 228) True location: ITM (699564, 773433) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached plans: _1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Distribution of pottery at Concentration B from Knowth 1, Fig. 92

• ME019-030040 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  After the abandonment of the passage tomb cemetery for burial at the end of the Neolithic and the desertion of the site during the Early Bronze Age the area was disused for almost two millennia. Discrete burials (ME019-030061-) began to be placed close to the main mound in the first century BC but these had ceased by the eight century AD when the mound was converted into an embanked occupation enclosure or rath. This may have coincided with a move by the northern branch of the Síl nÁedó Sláine from Slane to Knowth. This sept of the Uí Néill dynasty would become explicitly associated with Cnogba in the tenth century, by which time the mound had become an undefended settlement cluster (ME019-030060-). The mound was converted into a rath by digging two ditches, one around its top and the other at the base. An entrance ramp through the upper (Wth c. 14m) and lower (Wth 6m) fosses was left at SE, but as the summit of the mound was quarried in the nineteenth century no house sites or structures relating to the ditches survived. The outer ditch was dug inside the line of the passage tomb kerb, was generally V-shaped (Wth of top c. 5m; D c. 2.3m) in profile, and penetrated the subsoil at most points but it has no associated bank as the mound rose steeply over its inner edge. The upper ditch survived less well but had a U-shaped profile (at E: Wth of top c. 5m; int. D c. 2-3m) that is often reduced to an inner scarp (H c. 2m), and no bank associated with it survives. Some stone revetting was found in parts of both ditches, and the material from them was accumulated outside the outer fosse. Very few artefacts were recovered from the fosses but samples of animal bone from the outer ditch and charcoal from the summit produced radiocarbon dates ranging from AD 710-975. When the outer fosse was being constructed the entrances to both the E and W tombs were encountered, and the E tomb was later incorporated into a souterrain from the open settlement of the tenth and eleventh centuries. The fosse seems never to have been cleaned out and stratigraphy in the lower ditch illustrates continuous erosion layers but by the late eight century a humus developed, suggesting that there was a hiatus before an open settlement was established with 15 houses, some built in the ditches of the rath over an introduced layer of brown earth. There was no evidence that either fosse was re-cut anywhere at any time. Some artefacts of seventh – eight century date were recovered in secondary contexts, including two sherds of E-ware. A section of the outer ditch is displayed in a room within the mound close to the entrance of Tomb 1C East. (Eogan 2012, 71-83) Some of the most important results from the medieval stages of the mound are derived from the analysis of the faunal remains. Over 8000 bone fragments were recovered, of which 14% related to the rath, 75% to the open settlement and 10% to the high medieval enclosure (ME019-030062-). All three stages were dominated by cattle followed by sheep and pig at less than half the cattle numbers, but there was a marked decline from 50% to c. 40% of cattle numbers between the rath and the open settlement coinciding with increases in the numbers of pigs especially, and sheep. Cattle were used for traction, and would always provide over 80% of the meat when slaughtered but they and the sheep have secondary products in milk, hides and wool that could influence the age of slaughter. The results show that 35-40% of cattle were slaughtered at more than three years of age indicating that they were retained for dairy, while most of the others were slaughtered between 15 and 33 months, probably on achieving maturity and maximum weight. Most of the sheep were slaughtered between 12 and 28 months, suggesting that wool was not a factor, although the proportion of older animals would increase from c. 15% in the rath to c. 30% in the open settlement, and to 40% in the high medieval enclosure. Pigs have only one product, and a consistent age of slaughter between 17 and 23 months coincides with the stage at which the animal reaches maturity and maximum weight. (McCormick and Murray 2007) The animals were butchered at the site and many cattle bones bore the visible signs, including the splitting of the backbone, the smashing of the skull and the splitting of longbones to extract the marrow. Some lower limb bones where there would be little meat also had knife-marks, indicating the skinning of the carcass. There were no particular concentrations of bones that would suggest the proximity of an abattoir or a kitchen, or of particular species in particular areas, apart from the whole or partial articulated remains of five sheep in medieval house 4 of the open settlement, which may have become a repository for discarded carcasses or joints. While the dairy economy suggested by the cattle bones is in accord with the importance of dairying in the early Irish Laws (Kelly 1997), the slaughter of sheep at maturity is at variance with the same laws where the harvesting of wool was an important issue, unless the wool of older animals was too coarse to use. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Site plan from Knowth 5, Fig. 3:8 _2 Sections through the lower fosse from Knowth 5, Fig. 3:10

• ME019-030041 House - early medieval
  Description

  Fifteen house sites dating to the tenth and eleventh centuries AD have been recovered in excavation of the upper levels of the great passage tomb mound. Of these nine were on the lower slopes of the mound and largely on the fill of the lower fosse of the rath (ME019-030040-). Five were on the summit of the mound, around the periphery of the nineteenth century quarry, and only one medieval house site, No. 15, was located NE of the main passage tomb and immediately S of Tomb 15. Five iron, bronze and enamel working areas have also been identified. The houses were generally rectangular in plan, in a number of cases with rounded corners, and most had paved stone floors. Their dimensions varied from 6-12m in length and 3.50-6.25m in width. Structural details were confined to the surviving portions of the bases of the drystone perimeter walls. This is medieval house 1, located just inside the kerb at the entrance to the W tomb, and it is one of three in the area along with Souterrain 1. After the abandonment of a small paved area and associated surfaces where 4 orthostats from the tomb had been dumped and covered over this poorly preserved house was constructed. Only a portion (dims 5.25m x 3.5m)of its paved floor with its hearth survived but its W edge was damaged by the construction of the souterrain. (Eogan and Byrne 1968, 354-65; Eogan 1974, 87-111; Eogan 2012, 92-5) True location: ITM 699574, 773443 Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:7

• ME019-030042 House - early medieval
  Description

  This is medieval house 2 located c. 10m S of the entrance to Tomb 1C West of the great mound and built on the fill of the lower fosse of the rath. It was a poorly preserved rectangular structure (dims c. 5.4m N-S; c. 4m E-W) evidenced in portions of its N and E walls, parts of its cobbled floor and some of its hearth. Its E wall was a facing for the mound and the base of its W wall could have been provided by the kerb of the mound. A cross-wall lies over the floor at its S end, and Souterrain 1 began in the NE angle of the house demonstrating that they are contemporary. (Eogan 2012, 96-7) True location: ITM (699571, 773431) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4: 1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:8

• ME019-030043 House - early medieval
  Description

  This is medieval house 3 located c. 4m N of the entrance to Tomb 1C West of the great mound and built on the brown earth used to level up the fill of the lower fosse of the rath. It is a paved area (dims 15.5m N-S; c. 5m E-W) and the base of its E wall is slightly curved at the NE angle. A single flagstone (dims 1m x 0.8m) towards the S end was the base for a hearth. Recovered artefacts included a glass bead, ringed pins, bone and metal stick-pins, bone combs and points, horse harness, copper wire and a grindstone. (Eogan 2012, 99-101) True location: ITM (699573, 773450) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:9

• ME019-030044 House - early medieval
  Description

  This is medieval house 4, located on the E side of the great mound close to the entrance to Tomb 1C East and on the back-filled and wet lower fosse of the rath which had been levelled up with a layer of brown earth. This was the only area where organic material was preserved. The house was a rectangular area (dims 6.5m N-S; 3m plus E-W) with a rounded corner at SE and an in-turned entrance at E. The house is represented by fragments of walls on each side and it had a roughly cobbled floor with an underfloor stone-lined drain that exited beneath the E wall. There is a central hearth and an extensive spread of charcoal with carbonised grain, straw and wood suggesting that the house burned down, although 3 layers of habitation above it indicate that any fire wasn’t final. A layer of woven wattles outside the S wall could have been laid across the wet ditch at this point or might have originated in the wall of the house and fallen outwards. The whole or partial articulated remains of five sheep were recovered from this house, which may have become a repository for discarded carcases after it was no longer used for occupation (McCormick and Murray 2007, 43). When it was finally abandoned the house and much of the lower N and E sides of the mound were covered in a layer of stones (T 0.1-0.45m), which was disturbed by the construction of Souterrain 3. The S wall of the house ran onto the S wall of the entrance passage to the tomb, and drystone walling was used to connect the two, which facilitated the use of the tomb as a souterrain. A rough cobbling was laid along the length of the passage, and the chamber was used for habitation as two hearths, four pits and habitation material bear witness. These features overlie or cut earlier pits that are also medieval. (Eogan 2012, 112-18) True location: ITM (699654, 773453) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:17

• ME019-030045 House - early medieval
  Description

  This is medieval house 5, located on the E side of the great mound c. 7m NW of the entrance to Tomb 1C East, and on the back-filled lower fosse of the rath which had been levelled up with a layer of brown earth. This was the earliest house on the E side of the mound and consisted of the remains of a paved area (dims 5.7m N-S; 5.6m E-W) with adjacent portions of its N and W walls surviving but much of the S and W walls were destroyed by the building of souterrain 3. A stone bench (Wth 1.45m) was built on the paving at the N side and the inner face of the E wall was also evident. As the paving was built over the rath ditch it sagged towards its E edge. Two main phases of occupation were recognised in two hearths. Among the artefacts recovered from this house was a fragment of a copper alloy weighing scales. (Eogan 2012, 106-09) True location: ITM (669647, 773458) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 17/09/2020 See attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:14

• ME019-030046 House - early medieval
  Description

  This is medieval house 6 which is located c. 10m S of the entrance to Tomb 1C East and on the line of the lower fosse of the rath. It consisted of a layer of dark habitation material (dims 5m N-S; 3m E-W) but no structural features such as walls or a hearth were evident. It had a fairly regular outline, although it sagged at the centre over the ditch. (Eogan 2012, 118-9) True location: ITM (699654, 773440) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:20

• ME019-030047 House - early medieval
  Description

  This is medieval house 7, which was built on medieval house 6 with only a thin layer of ash between them. House 7 (ext. dims 7m N-S; 5.8m E-W) was evident as adjacent sections of the S and W walls with a rounded corner at SW, together with fragments of the N and E walls and an area of cobbling. One internal post-hole and the hearth were displaced S of the centre. The cobbling was covered by a charcoal layer with straw, from which a charred oak beam was recovered, which suggests that the house burned down. (Eogan 2012, 119-24) Ture location: ITM (699653, 773444) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig: 4:24

• ME019-030048 House - early medieval
  Description

  This is medieval house 8 which is located just W of medieval house 7. It consists of the poorly preserved remains of a N wall (L 0.9m) and a small stone-lined hearth situated 2.8m to the S with a small area of paving beside it. Habitation material was not connected with these features but it is at the same level as Souterrain 4 and it is thought that they are contemporary, although the entrance to that souterrain is c. 7m to the N. (Eogan 2012, 126-7) True location: ITM (699649, 773443) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5: Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:26

• ME019-030049 House - early medieval
  Description

  This is medieval house 9, which is located partly over but mostly just W of medieval house 7 on the E side of the mound and over the fill of the lower ditch. It is separated stratigraphically from medieval houses 8 and 7 which are in the same area but lie under it. The poorly preserved house consisted of parts of the N (L 2.2m) and S (L 2.4m) walls that are 1.8-2.4m apart, and a hard compact brown clay floor where there was a paved hearth (dims 0.45m x 0.4m). There was no clear evidence of the E and W walls and the floor sloped down steeply to the E (H 0.9m). (Eogan 2012, 129-31) True location: ITM (699648, 773439) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:28

• ME019-030050 Habitation site
  Description

  This was originally designated as ‘House 10’ situated at the E edge of the summit of the mound, but it is unlikely to have been a house. It is built over the eight century humus and a levelling up layer over the inner fosse of the rath (ME019-030040-), and is the first structure on the summit from the tenth - eleventh century open settlement. The earliest features here were 6 hearths that were in the open and which fire-reddened an extensive area. These are sealed directly by a paved area (dims 30m N-S; 7m E-W) that has drystone walling retaining the mound material (max. H 0.9m) on the long sides. However, the S end coincided with the terminal of the upper fosse of the rath, and it may have served just to consolidate the fosse. Nevertheless, there was habitation material (D 0.1-0.2m) with 10 hearths over the paving which were concentrated at the S end. The habitation layer was covered by a compact layer of brown sandy clay followed by more habitation material in seven layers (max. T 0.6m). The habitation is thought to be contemporary with hearths pre-dating other houses on the summit, and a wide range of artefacts including glass and jet bracelets, beads, ringed pins and a comb, as well as bone-working waste, a bone handle and a whetstone were recovered. The insertion of souterrains 3 and 5 damaged this paving and walling at the N end. (Eogan 2012, 132-8) True location: ITM (699633, 773446) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:32

• ME019-030051 Souterrain
  Description

  Nine souterrains have been recorded in excavation at the Knowth passage tomb complex. They are associated with the early medieval open settlement (ME019-030060-) and are placed largely on the sides and summit of the great mound. This is souterrain No. 1 which is located inside the kerb of Tomb 1C West. It is contemporary with medieval house 2 and was entered from its NE corner. From the house the passage extends N (L 7.2m; Wth c. 0.6m; H 1.2m) with 15 lintels in place. As a later modification a drystone-built passage extended E from its N end to connect with the surviving orthostats of the W tomb. Later again, the souterrain was connected to medieval house 3 N of the entrance to the tomb and direct access to the tomb was provided by an additional passage to the W. After the demise of medieval house 2 the S end of the souterrain was extended by a passage. This ran W, on the inner side of the old N wall of the house as far as its NW angle and then turned SE to the centre of the old floor. (Eogan 2012, 87, 97-101) True location: ITM (699574m 773438) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Plan of souterrain, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:8 _3 Plan of souterrain, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:10

• ME019-030052 Souterrain
  Description

  Nine souterrains have been recorded in excavation at the passage tomb complex. They are associated with the early medieval open settlement (ME019-030060-) and are placed largely on the sides and summit of the great mound. This is Souterrain No. 2, located on the E side of the mound at the entrance to Tomb 1C East. The passage (L 15m plus; Wth 0.7m; H 1m) connected with the tomb towards its S end where it takes a turn W but the original S end of the souterrain is destroyed by work connected with Souterrain 3. The passage extends N past this junction and slopes down to a large beehive chamber (diam. 2.7m; H 1.8m). There is no evidence of a house connected with this souterrain which pre-dated medieval houses 4 and 5 but precise relationships could not be established with any features. Some hearths in the vicinity that also pre-date these houses could be associated with the souterrain. (Eogan 2012, 109-11) True location: ITM (699653, 773459) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Souterrain plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:15

• ME019-030053 Souterrain
  Description

  Nine souterrains have been recorded in excavation at the passage tomb complex. They are associated with the early medieval open settlement (ME019-030060-) and are placed largely on the sides and summit of the great mound. This monument is souterrain 3 located on the E side of the mound, and it was connected to medieval house 7 and the entrance to Tomb 1C East itself. It is one of the longest and most complicated of the souterrains at Knowth, and it is cut into both the upper and lower fosses of the rath. The main section runs N (L 8.8m; max. Wth 0.85m) from the entrance to the E tomb to a sub-rectangular beehive chamber (dims 1.8m x 1.6m; H 1.8m). There is a step-up from this chamber to a passage (L 6.3m) rising steeply W up the mound to another step-up beyond which it continued W (L c. 9.2m) but it was no longer roofed. Just before its S end which is connected with the passage from medieval house 4 to the passage tomb this souterrain was joined by the re-modelled entrance from Souterrain 2 that was at a lower level and also extended N. At the junction of Soutterains 2/3 with the passage tomb the S wall of the tomb was extended E by drystone walling and this provided the S wall of another passage (L 2.1m; Wth 1.3m; H 1m) of this souterrain that is roofed with stones from a satellite tomb, two of which have megalithic art. This passage almost reached the kerb of the tomb, but the passage turned S (L c. 3m), although unroofed, to connect with the NE corner of medieval house 7. (Eogan 2012, 124-6) True location: ITM (699637, 773465) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knwoth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Souterrain plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 25

• ME019-030054 Souterrain
  Description

  Nine souterrains have been recorded in excavation at the passage tomb complex. They are associated with the early medieval open settlement (ME019-030060-) and are placed largely on the sides and summit of the great mound. This souterrain is No. 4, the entrance to which is at the complex junction of souterrains outside the entrance to Tomb 1C East. From the entrance, which was dug into the fill of the lower ditch of the rath, a passage proceeds N (L c. 11m), curving a little to the W in the central roofed section (L c. 7.6m). There is an alcove (Wth 0.9m; H 0.7m; D 1.1m) in the E wall along this section. At the N end of this passage where it is barely evident it runs over the kerb of the great mound, Tomb 1C, and turns SE (L 3.1m; Wth 0.9m), ending in a circular chamber (diam. 2.5m) outside the great mound. Only the basal courses of stones survive N of the roofed section apart from a short section roofed by two lintels just W of the chamber. Although it begins close to the conjunction of the passage of Tomb 1C East with souterrains 2/3 this souterrain post-dates them both. The portion outside the mound of Tomb 1C is conserved. (Eogan 2012, 127-9) True location: ITM (699652, 773458) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1` _2 Souterrain plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:27

• ME019-030055 Souterrain
  Description

  Nine souterrains have been recorded in excavation at the passage tomb complex. They are associated with the early medieval open settlement (ME019-030060-) and are placed largely on the sides and summit of the great mound. This is Souterrain No. 5, located on the summit of the mound at the NE edge and it was completely excavated in 1941 (Roe 1943). It consists of a passage (L 4m; Wth 1m) entered at S with 2 surviving lintels at the N end as it entered a circular chamber (diam. 3.5m) that was probably of beehive construction (surviving H 0.75m). Artefacts recovered from the excavation in 1941 include a copper alloy bracelet, a bell pendant, bone stick-pins, a copper alloy tweezers, a tanged knife, a sickle, bone combs, gaming pieces and silver pennies. This souterrain could have been connected with the W end of Souterrain 3, and it was built later than medieval house 11. It has not been conserved. (Eogan 2012, 139-40) True location: ITM (699620, 773471) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Souterrain plan, Knowth 5, Fig. 4:34

• ME019-030056 Souterrain
  Description

  Nine souterrains have been recorded in excavation at the passage tomb complex. They are associated with the early medieval open settlement (ME019-030060-) and are placed largely on the sides and summit of the great mound. This is Souterrain No. 6 and it was structurally attached to the NW corner of medieval house 12 on the side of the mound at its S edge. It consisted of a passage (total L 13.9m; Wth c. 0.75m) with 18 surviving lintels, and only 2 of these were in place. It ran W (L 2.2m), SW (L 3.7m) and then W to a circular chamber (diam. 2.5m; max. surviving H 1.2m). The floor of the passage sloped down steeply (H 2.5m) over its length with 2 steps in its course. It is not conserved. (Eogan 2012, 142-4) True location: ITM (699612, 733419) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September, 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Souterrain plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:36

• ME019-030057 Souterrain
  Description

  Nine souterrains have been recorded in excavation at the passage tomb complex. They are associated with the early medieval open settlement (ME019-030060-) and are placed largely on the sides and summit of the great mound. This is Souterrain No. 7 associated with medieval house 15 and it is located just NE of the mound. It is poorly preserved with only 3 lintels in position. It consists of a Z-shaped passage (total L 21m) ending in an oval chamber (dims 2.5m x 2m), with a secondary entrance passage at one of the bends. From the house the passage extends NW (L 4.5m) where it turned NE (L 4m), curving slightly E. Then it turned sharply NW (L 4m), utilising kerbstones on the SW side of Tomb 15to form its NE side. The subsidiary passage (L 4m; Wth 0.7-1.35m) entered this section from the E between two of the kerbstones from the tomb. At the NW end of this section of the main passage it turned NE (L c. 4m) passing through the kerb of the passage tomb. However, little of the souterrain survives here apart from evidence of a small alcove on the SE side which is on the site of a displaced orthostat from the passage tomb. The final 2m of passage took a N course before dropping into the oval chamber (dims 2.5m x 2m). Four pits and some post-holes had been dug in the chamber floor, perhaps in an effort to support the roof. The souterrain had a primary fill (T c. 0.1m) but late material, including clay pipe fragments above this suggests that the final destruction was a later occurrence. The portions of this souterrain outside Tomb 15 have been conserved. (Eogan 2012, 87, 164-8) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Souterrain plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:50

• ME019-030058 Souterrain
  Description

  Nine souterrains have been recorded in excavation at the passage tomb complex. They are associated with the early medieval open settlement (ME019-030060-) and are placed largely on the sides and summit of the great mound. This is Souterrain No. 8 set into the base of the mound at NW. It consists of a straight passage (L 3.2m; Wth 0.7m; H 0.6) leading to a beehive chamber (dims 2m x 1.7m; H 1.5m) closed with a single capstone. The entrance was from an unroofed shallow pit outside kerbstone 89 of Tomb 1C, ran beneath that stone, and along the passage which was built in the fill of the lower fosse of the rath. The passage and chamber had a fill (T 0.3-0.4m) of silt from which no artefacts were recovered. This souterrain is conserved and its entrance beneath the kerbstone can be seen, but it is inaccessible. (Eogan 2012, 101) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Souterrain plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4: 11

• ME019-030059 Souterrain
  Description

  Nine souterrains have been recorded in excavation at the passage tomb complex. They are associated with the early medieval open settlement (ME019-030060-) and are placed largely on the sides and summit of the great mound, Tomb 1C. This is Souterrain 9, which was built into the NE-facing slope of the mound of Tomb 14. It was entered at W and has a short, well-preserved passage (L 3.2m; Wth0.65m; H 0.6-0.7m) with 5 lintels in place. The floor slopes down steeply (H 1m) to the floor of a beehive chamber (diam. 1.8m; H 1.3m) which had 2 capstones closing the roof. The passage and chamber were almost completely filled with a soft dark earth that would have percolated in. The base of the fill contained the bones of sheep and rabbits, and those of an unborn calf. (Eogan 2012, 168) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Souterrain plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4: 52

• ME019-030060 Settlement cluster
  Description

  According to Adomnán’s seventh century life of St Columba the saint recognised Áedh of Slane as worthy of kingship, and seven of his descendants would hold the title of Ard Rí or High King in the second half of the seventh century and the early part of the eight (Price 1950, 21-22, 30-34). Áedh traced his ancestry to Niall Noígiallach (of the nine hostages) and thus was part of the royal house of the Uí Neill who would come to dominate Meath and Ulster in the later first millennium AD. Áedh’s descendants, the Síl nÁedo Sláine, were described as kings of Tara or of Mag Breag ‘the plain of the cleared hills’, which was a territory that could have extended as far north as the River Dee in Co. Louth and as far south as the River Tolka in Co. Dublin but, although its W boundary is less certain, the River Boyne was never any form of a barrier. St Patrick considered Slane important enough to light the first defiant Pascal fire there, and he appointed Erc as the first abbot of its church. By the late seventh century the Síl nÁedo Sláine was developing two power nodes. At the Battle of Imlech Pích in AD 688 a northern cohort under Congalach Mac Connaigh, together with the Ciannachta of Louth and east Meath, was defeated by a southern section under Niall Mac Cernaig Sotal that came to be associated with Lagore crannog (ME038-027----). For the next century the northern Síl nÁedo Sláine are sometimes styled as kings of the Ciannachta, but by the early ninth century they are described as Rí Cnogba – king of Knowth. At the end of the ninth century Flannacán Mac Cellaig (ob. 896) becomes the progenitor of an aggressive branch which would provide kings of Knowth and of Brega for almost a century. Flannacán’s son, Máel Mithig (ob. 919) was able to enter into an advantageous alliance with the powerful Clann Cholmáin rulers of the west part of the province of Meath, and either with or against the Vikings of Dublin, he was able to extend his reach to the national stage. His son, Congalach (rule c. 932-956), continued the policy of aggrandisement. In 935 ‘the cave of Cnogba’, probably then the home of Congalach’s brother Áedh, was attacked by Dublin Vikings in the same week that they sacked Lagore crannog (Byrne 1968, 397). Vikings had previously ‘searched the caves of Cnogba’ in 863. In 944 Congalach, together with the men of Leinster, sacked Dublin, which may have given him the wealth and patronage to continue his career. In the same year the leadership of Clann Cholmáin suffered setbacks and Congalach was able to claim the supreme title of Ard Rí which he held until his death in 956. However, he was not completely effective in that role as Munster and Leinster never recognised his authority. From this time the undefended settlement at Knowth could have assumed the status of a royal residence as it moved closer to the centre of national politics, although Congalach can seldom have been present. In 945 he defeated a band of northern raiders and took the hostages of Connaught. In 947 the northerners raided Slane, the ecclesiastical equivalent of Congalach’s authority, at a time when his Viking allies seem to have deserted him. In retaliation Congalach attacked Dublin once but the Vikings raided Slane annually for a few years. However, in 950 Congalach defeated Ruaidrí Ua Canannáin and the northern menace dissipated for a while, although Viking attacks on Meath churches continued. In 951 when he seemed to be in control of the north part of Ireland he was able to place a fleet on the River Shannon and threaten Munster. In reality Congalach could only rely on the forces of Brega and Meath, as he discovered when raids by Domhnall Ua Néill of the Cenél Eóghan, a sept of the northern Uí Néill, resumed in 954 with the aid of Dublin Vikings. In 956 Congalach was murdered at the gathering of Oenach Liffe by Vikings allied with the Leinster men, leaving the way was open for Domhnall Ua Néill to claim the High Kingship. After Congalach’s death his descendants are described as ‘worthy to be King of Temrach (Tara)’ which recognises their kinship with Congalach and their ancestral rights, but the family never regains the supreme power. Congalach’s son Domhnall (ob. 976) manages to retain the authority of the king of Brega, but his political activity is reduced to Meath and its borders. As a son of a recent High King Domhnall was a threat to the reigning King, and in 970 Knowth, together with the Dublin Vikings, was triumphant over the High King in a battle at Cill Mona. However, the Síl nÁedo Sláine weren’t in a position to take advantage of the victory and the following year Clann Colmáin had to repulse the Cenél Eóghain king. In the following generations the descendants of Congalach recede from the regnal lists when faced with the rising power of the Máel Sechnaill dynasty from Clan Colmáin in the west part of the province. At the battle of Tara in 980, which secured Máel Sechnaill’s power in Meath – Brega, no descendent of Congalach is listed as present. Thereafter, descendants of Congalach appear at best as minor allies, and it is not certain that they were still connected with the settlement at Knowth. (Byrne 1967-8; Swift 2017) Much of the history of the northern Síl nÁedo Sláine in the tenth and eleventh centuries when they were at the centre of Irish politics coincides with the period when the settlement at Knowth was assured enough to exist without earthwork fortifications and took the form of a cluster of houses on the mound of Tomb 1C. By the end of the eight century a humus had developed over the deposits in the fosses of the rath (ME019-030040-) indicating its abandonment, and this was followed by an introduced layer of earth to level up the tops of the fosses, which then became the locations where houses were built. The mounds of the satellite tombs on the E side of the great mound may have been levelled at this time and a rough cobbling was established over much of the area. It is not known how many houses related to this phase there may have been on top of the mound but 14 houses on the sides of the mound, most of which are built over the lower fosse at E or W, were recorded, and one house was built NE of the mound. In addition, five metalworking areas and the nine souterrains, including some that were connected with the E tomb, are associated with this phase. (Eogan 2012) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 17 September 2020 See the attached illustration: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1

• ME019-030061 Burial
  Description

  Thirty five inhumations recovered in excavation at the Knowth passage tomb cemetery are unrelated to the original use of the cemetery. They are discrete burials dispersed over the area around the great mound S-W-N, with concentrations at NNW and S but none were placed on the mound itself. They date from the first century BC to the eighth-ninth century AD, a period which spans the conversion of the country to Christianity and which was also a time when burial practices changed radically. Irish burial customs were influenced by British fashions, from the introduction of crouched inhumation with grave-goods in the first century to extended inhumations oriented W-E with the head at W but without grave-goods by the fourth century. However, attributing a religious affiliation on the basis of the burial rite would be an over-simplification. The burials at Knowth illustrate the entire range, including four slab-lined burials (ME019-030084-) at the end of the sequence which were placed side by side creating the concept of a cemetery. The burials at Knowth are the first sign of activity at the cemetery in over 2000 years but they are a rare occurrence, perhaps one every 20 years, and therefore are probably of individuals with some particular status, whether high or low, as there is a secular cemetery nearby at Site M (ME019-028----) c. 350m to the NE. Radiocarbon dates of five burials (175 cal. BC to 253 cal. AD) and grave-goods confirm that 14 burials are early in the sequence, and another six with no stratigraphic context or associated grave-goods, including two represented by the skull alone, are also probably early. The interments were in pits and are equally divided between male and female, but most were younger than 30 years at the time of death. Where it could be established all were in a crouched position and grave-goods were present in all but two of the certain examples. The grave-goods vary from a single glass bead to almost 600 glass beads with a child, but bone beads and copper alloy rings together with bone dice also occur. The later burials, with 4 radiocarbon dates ranging from 645 cal. AD to 891 cal. AD, are also equally divided between male and female but children are absent. They are generally aligned W-E, but while most of the flexed burials were in open ground many of the later burials were inserted into the passages and chambers of passage tombs, although grave-goods are completely absent. (Eogan 2012, 13-61; O’Brien 2012) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 06 November 2013 Amended: 18 September 2020 See attached illustration: _1 Distribution of burials, from Knowth 5, Fig. 2:1

• ME019-030062 Enclosure
  Description

  In 1142 the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland was founded at Mellifont (LH023-002----), c. 5km to the NNE, and by 1157 the monks were in possession of land at Knowth. Anglo-Norman settlement in Meath began once Hugh de Lacy sub-infeudated the province of Meath after 1172. He granted the barony of Slane to Richard Fleming who established his caput or headquarter at Slane but as Knowth was held by the Cistercians it would have been outside his fief. Nevertheless, there is a reference in the Miscellaneous Annals to the construction of a castle at Cnogba in 1176 (Kenny 2008, 150). At the great mound, after the abandonment of the houses of the open settlement in the eleventh century, two short sections of ditch were dug or re-vamped on the E side of the mound (Eogan 2012, 172-5). This seems to have been a temporary or incomplete measure but 10 twelfth century coins and two from the fourteenth were recovered from their fill. More significantly a stony layer (T 0.3-0.7m) with quantities of thirteenth – fourteenth century ceramics was laid over the top of the mound as a prepared floor for an enclosure and at least one house. The enclosure is rectangular (int. dims 34m NE-SW; 22.5m NW-SE) but very little survives as the central area had been quarried in the nineteenth century. It was defined by a mortared wall at SE and SW (Wth 1m), and the mortar stain from the other walls was still evident. The main entrance (Wth 6m) was on the SE side, utilising the ramp entrance of the rath, with a smaller entrance (Wth 3.5m) at the W end of the NW side. A refuse area outside the latter suggests that this opening might have been an outlet for a drain. Outside the NE boundary a rectangular stone-lined pit (dims c. 3m x 1.9m) open to the NE is described as a ‘bastion’ but could be interpreted as the outlet of a very large garderobe or latrine. There was a large paved area (dims c. 12m x c. 8m) supporting 5 hearths inside the boundary at SW with an internal parallel wall (L 2.5m; T 0.8m) 2.6m from it which could have formed a lean-to structure against the enclosure wall. Another hearth survived on an area of paving against the SE enclosure boundary, and a mortar stain inside the NW boundary at the N end indicates walling on three sides of a rectangular area (dims 8m NW-SE; 5m NE-SW) and could represent another structure. The outline of the rectangular enclosure is conserved on top of the mound. (Eogan 2012, 177-80) Thirty four fragments of dressed medieval masonry of thirteenth century character have been recovered from the mound and its vicinity (O’Keefe 2012), and many came from its summit. At least 5 windows are represented, including one lancet and one twin-light rounded window-head. The location of such a structure is not known but it is clear that a medieval building of high status was in the vicinity of the mound, and there are post-medieval documentary references to a church (ME019-030066-) at Knowth. Because of the central quarry on top of the mound and the fragmentary quality of the remains it cannot be known how many structures were in the enclosure or what their nature was. The excavator regards it as 'an enclosed courtyard farm' (Eogan 2012, 171-80) but Stout (2002, 86-8) suggests it represents the remains of a Cistercian grange dating from the late 12th century, in which case it would have had a church. O'Keeffe (2012, 623) came to the conclusion that the excavated remains belonged to a 'fourteenth-century secular, courtyard farm, possibly built by a leasee of lands from the Cistercians'. Compiled by: Michael Moore O’Keefe, T. 2012 7. 5. 3. 1. Medieval architectural pieces. In Eogan 2012, 619-26. Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustration: _1 Plan of the medieval enclosure, from Knowth 5, Fig. 5:4

• ME019-030063 House - Neolithic
  Description

  This house (House A) was identified in excavation connected with the conservation of Tomb 1C West. It was located c. 5m from the kerb and was sealed beneath a humus while the trench for the orthostats of the tomb cut its features. It was a rectangular area (ext. dims 4.8m plus NNW-SSE; 3.55m ENE-WSW) defined by a foundation trench (Wth c. 0.25m; D c. 0.2m) with a rounded corner at SW but its full length could not be recovered. In the limited area excavated there was no evidence of an occupation layer, an entrance or a hearth, but it had at least three internal post-holes. A pit located c. 1m from the SE corner is probably slightly earlier as it was sealed by a layer of brown earth and stones, although only a chord (dim. 2m x 0.6m; D 0.4m) of the pit could be excavated. Artefacts associated with it include fragments of at least five carinated bowls with expanded rims, an end scraper and four flakes as well as animal bones and cereal grains. (Eogan and Roche 1997b, 1998) True location: ITM (699578, 773444) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustration: _1 House plan, from Eogan and Roche 1998

• ME019-030065 Passage tomb art
  Description

  Discovered in 2011 reconstruction of the roadside wall directly opposite the entrance to the depot at Knowth (formerly Robinson's Farm). The stone contains a beautifully executed spiral at one end. Its original provenance is unknown and it is impossible to state if the stone had been used as a lintel, corbel or othostat. The stone is currently located in one of the outbuildings within the farm complex. Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 9 October 2012 Amended: 18 September 2020

• ME019-030066 Church
  Description

  Thirty four fragments of dressed medieval masonry of thirteenth century character have been recovered from the great mound and its vicinity (O’Keefe 2012), many of which came from its summit. The detailed carving of some pieces suggests that it is the work of a skilled mason. The presence of a fillet moulded half column indicates a church, while the features in general intimate a thirteenth century date. At least five windows are represented, including one with a pointed light and another with a round-headed twin-light. The location of such a structure is not known, but it is clear that a medieval building of high status was in the vicinity of the mound, and there are post-medieval documentary references to a church at Knowth. Ussher, who was the Protestant bishop of Meath, in a visitation of 1622 describes a church at Knongh in the deanery of Slane as somewhat ruinous (Erlington 1847-64, 1, xciv), and according to a later visitation by bishop Dopping in 1682-5 St Brendan’s church at Knowth was a ruin and was not enclosed (Ellison 1973, 6). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien, Michael Moore O’Keefe, T. 2012 7. 5. 3. 1. Medieval architectural pieces. In Eogan 2012, 619-26. Date of upload: 15 December 2014 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustration: _1 Some of the medieval dressed stone, from Knowth 5, Fig. 7.5.7

• ME019-030067 Kiln - corn-drying
  Description

  Corn-drying kiln number 1: This is located just to the E of Tomb 17 within its mound, and it was fully excavated in 1970 as kiln No. 1. It was a circular chamber (diam. of base 1.5m; diam. of top 2.18m)with 7-11 courses of stonework surviving (max. H 1.1m). The flue (L 3.9m; Wth 0.5-0.7m) approached from the SSE and had one lintel in place just before the chamber, which partly overlay the kerb of the tomb. There was evidence of burning only at the entrance to the flue, and the structure was filled with a dark earth that produced no artefacts. It is not conserved. (Eogan 2012, 183-4) True location: ITM (699660, 773466) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Plan of kiln, from Knowth 5, Fig. 5:6

• ME019-030068 Kiln - corn-drying
  Description

  Corn-drying kiln number 2: This is located c. 17m to the NE of corn-drying kiln number 1 (ME019-030067-). It consisted of an oval chamber (dims 1.6m x 1.2m) with a passage (L 1.4m; Wth 0.4-0.65m) extending SE to open into a rectangular pit area (dims 2m plus x 2m plus) retained by walling at SW and NW but open in other directions. Much of the walling was reduced to a single course. This kiln is conserved in situ. (Eogan 2012, 184-5) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Plan of kiln from Knowth, 5, Fig. 5:7 _3 View of the kiln looing W to the main mound

• ME019-030069 Kiln - corn-drying
  Description

  Two corn-drying kilns, described as ovens, were built into the mound of Tomb 12. This feature is NW of the chamber and consists of a flue (L 6m; Wth 1m) running E-W but curving to the N, with a fire-pit at either end. The oven was probably on the N side of the flue where there is a gap in the walling but the oven itself was destroyed by a pit (dims 2.6m x 1.8m; D 1m)cut from the surviving top of the mound behind a kerbstone. No primary material was associated with the oven but a redeposited barbed-and-tanged arrowhead was recovered from the pit and a redeposited flint scraper was found on the surviving surface of the tomb mound. The ovens post-date the levelling of the mound which occurred in the first millennium AD. They are not conserved. (Eogan 2012, 181-2) True location: ITM (669566, 773506) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 plan of kilns, from Kowth 5, Fig. 5:5 (left)

• ME019-030070 Kiln - corn-drying
  Description

  Two corn-drying kilns, described as ovens, were built into the mound of Tomb 12. This feature is E of the passage of the tomb and consists of a fire-pit (diam. 1m; D 0.43m) with a fire-reddened base connected by a flue (L 2m; Wth 1m; D 0.2m) extending SW to a chamber (dims 2.25m x 1.5m) outlined by a single course of stones. No carbonised grain or other evidence of use was recovered, but the ovens post-dated the levelling of the passage tomb mound which occurred in the first millennium AD. They are not conserved. (Eogan 2012, 182) True location: ITM (699573, 773502) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Plan from Knowth 5, Fig. 5:5 (Right)

• ME019-030071 House - early medieval
  Description

  Fifteen house sites dating to the tenth - eleventh centuries AD have been recovered in excavation of the upper levels of the passage tomb mound. This is medieval house 11 located at the NE edge of the summit of the great mound, and built over the fill of the upper fosse of the rath. The humus from the abandonment of the rath was levelled up with a layer of brown earth (max. T 1m) on which were nine hearths at this point that resulted in extensive burning and reddening of the soil. An L-shaped paving (dims c. 9m NW-SE; c. 4m NE-SW) was laid down at the N end of what was known as ‘House 10’. It was bordered on the E side by the foundation course of a wall with a straight inner edge but no other evidence of a house was present. The paving was covered by a layer of dark earth only distinguished by the density of artefacts over the paved floor from the area around it. Jet bracelets, glass and stone beads, stick-pins, combs and a barrel padlock key were recovered in the area. (Eogan 2012, 138-9) True location: ITM (699634, 773461) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:33

• ME019-030072 House - early medieval
  Description

  Fifteen house sites dating to the tenth - eleventh centuries AD have been recovered in excavation of the upper levels of the passage tomb mound. This is medieval house 12 located at the SSE edge of the summit of the great mound, over the fill of the upper fosse of the rath and just on the S side of the entrance ramp to the rath. Before any structure was built 17 open hearths were utilised in the vicinity. There were some clusters amongst the hearths but generally they did not overlap. As a result of the fires a layer of dark earth accumulated. House 12 (ext. dims 10.7m E-W; 6,25m N-S) consisted of a paved floor, small portions of the N and E walls and an entrance marked by 2 large stones in the W wall. There were 2 hearths outside the SE corner of the house. A copper alloy ferule and mount, a fish-hook, an iron needle, a jet bracelet, bone and glass beads, ring-pins, a buckle, combs and a barrel lock key and gaming pieces were recovered in the wider area. The foundations of this house have been conserved. (Eogan 2012, 140-1) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:36

• ME019-030073 House - early medieval
  Description

  Fifteen house sites dating to the tenth - eleventh centuries AD have been recovered in excavation of the upper levels of the passage tomb mound. This is medieval house 13 situated at the SSW edge of the summit of the great mound and built over the fill of the upper fosse of the rath. The house was preceded by 10 hearths set in pits, 5 in the area of the house, in a brown stony layer of the fill of the fosse. House 13 was not fully excavated but the exposed part was a paved area (dims 5.2m E-W; 4.1m N-S) with an associated hearth and some post-holes, covered by a compact brown earth flecked with charcoal. Copper alloy wire and a mount, a door-handle, jet bracelets, stick-pins and combs were amongst the artefacts recovered. (Eogan 2012, 148-51) True location: ITM (669623, 773423) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4: 41

• ME019-030074 House - early medieval
  Description

  Fifteen house sites dating to the tenth - eleventh centuries AD have been recovered in excavation of the upper levels of the passage tomb mound. This is medieval house 14 located at the NNW edge of the summit of the mound, and built over the fill of the upper fosse of the rath in an area that was not completely excavated. A layer of compact dark material with at least one hearth preceded the house that was represented by a roughly rectangular paved area (dims c. 11.5m E-W; c. 5.5m N-S). It had a hearth, and stone steps rose externally to the E edge of the paved area at its N end. Three paved areas with hearths along the perimeter of the mound W-NW might be contemporary with it. Artefacts associated with medieval house 14 included jet and glass bracelets, ring-pins, stick-pins, a barrel padlock key, a gaming piece and a sherd of Souterrain ware. (Eogan 2012, 153-6) True location: ITM (669601, 773469) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the Attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 plan of house, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:45

• ME019-030075 House - early medieval
  Description

  Fifteen house sites dating to the tenth - eleventh centuries AD have been recovered in excavation of the upper levels of the passage tomb mound. This is medieval house 15, the only house not located on the great mound as it is situated between the satellite Tombs 15 and 16.A lot of re-organisation took place NE of the great mound in this era involving the levelling of the mounds from Tombs 15-18 and the establishment of a paved surface (dims c. 50m E-W; c. 25m N-S) over the area. This activity was contemporary with medieval houses 4 and 5 and their associated features, including the re-use of the E tomb as a souterrain, and it is suggested that the paved area could have functioned as a farmyard for these houses. This house (dims 3.4m plus E-W; 4.85m N-S) with rounded corners was represented by the remnants of a paved floor, a hearth close to the E wall, and fragments of the N and S walls, but the W side did not survive. It was built over the cobbles of the farmyard, and souterrain 7 (ME019-030057-) began within the house. This house is not conserved. (Eogan 2012, 162) True location: ITM (669644, 773485) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 November 2013 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:50

• ME019-030076 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 19. Nineteen glacial erratic boulders of mixed types were discovered in a fairly confined area (dims c. 15m x c. 15m) about 20m SE of the great mound of Tomb 1C during the course of the excavations which Eogan (1984, 156-8; 2017, 257) considered represented displaced kerbstones of a possible passage tomb or tombs that had been destroyed. In addition, about 300 broken fragments of green grit or greywacke, came to light in the same area, but not a single socket is associated with them. An imprecise location is provided SE of the great mound where the boulders were found. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 27 February 2014 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustration: _1 Cemetery plan, from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1

• ME019-030077 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 20: Situated c. 20m S of the kerb of the great mound, and located between Tombs 3 and 4. Discovered in 1994, the remains comprised several pit-like features and chips of greywacke. At least three sockets, probably for kerbstones at N, and 16 socket-like depressions with fragments of one upright stone were revealed indicating the location of an additional passage and chamber. The tomb consisted of a N-S passage (L c. 9.8m) entered at N. Two sockets E of the S end of the passage suggest that it had a left-hand recess at least and may have been cruciform. The tomb had been very badly damaged and the covering mound had been completely removed. The sockets are now marked with concrete posts. (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 251) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload 27 February 2014 Amended: 18 September 2020 See the attached illustrations; _1 Cemetery plan, from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Tomb plan, From Knowth 6, Fig. 2:58

• ME019-030078 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Knowth cemetery, Tomb 21. Eogan (1984, 159) references the OS Name Book (1836) which records that 'In front of Miss Maguire's house are two upright stones about 6 feet high overgrown with ivy which may have been a Cromlech or a Tomb in the centre of a Cairn similar to those opened in Dowth parish. The plan of the stones is L. They are so much covered in ivy that a passer-by would suppose the whole to be only an Ivy bush.' The present farmhouse was built about 1860-70 and the stones may have been cleared away at that time. A later plan by Eogan (2017, Fig. 2:47) suggests that the tomb may have been further E, so its precise location is not known. (Herity 1967, 141) Archaeological monitoring (E004327) of a N-S service trench in the farmyard during 2010 (excavations.ie 2011:486) and of an E-W service trench (L c. 74m) just S of Knowth House in 2012 (excavations.ie 2012:464) produced no evidence of it. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 27 February 2014 Amended: 18 September 2020, 19 March 2021

• ME019-030079 Metalworking site
  Description

  Five areas with metalworking activity associated with features from the first millennium AD were recovered in excavation at the Knowth cemetery of prehistoric passage tombs. This is metalworking area 1 outside the W edge of the great mound where there was an extensive paved area (dims c. 19m N-S; c. 10m E-W) laid on the upcast from the excavation of the lower fosse of the rath (ME019-0300040-). There was a short drain (L 5m N-S; Wth c. 0.4m) beneath the paving. Just W of the S end of the paved area was a metalworking area consisting of dark earth with in situ burning and a rectangular area of pebbles (dims 4m x 2m) laid directly on the old sod. An area of burning and an ash layer were on its W side. No smithing hearth was present but 13 hearth cakes and iron slag were recovered from the ash and charcoal together with 2 crucibles. (Eogan 2012, 158-9) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 18 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Plan of metalworking, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:48

• ME019-030080 Metalworking site
  Description

  Five areas with metalworking activity associated with features from the first millennium AD were recovered in excavation at the Knowth cemetery of prehistoric passage tombs. This is metalworking area 2 at the NW edge of the great mound and it was at the centre of a thick fill in the upper level of the lower fosse of the rath. It is probably tenth century in date and consists of a rectangular spread (dims 2.8m x 2.5m) of charcoal and iron slag with smaller spreads extending NE. Two shallow pits with charcoal (diam. 1m; D 0.25: dims 0.7m x 0.45m; D 0.15m) were beneath the slag, the latter with a molten concentrate at its base. Just E of the mixed spread was a second spread (dims 1.8m x 1.2m) that was almost entirely iron slag with an ochre substance that was probably a small bowl furnace. (Eogan 2012, 101-04) True location: ITM (699596, 773487) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Plan of metalworking, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:12

• ME019-030081 Metalworking site
  Description

  Five areas with metalworking activity associated with features from the first millennium AD were recovered in excavation at the Knowth cemetery of prehistoric passage tombs. This is metalworking area 3 located just outside the W wall of House 12. It consisted of a subcircular spread (dims 2.2m x 1.7m; T c. 0.01m) of charcoal and ash with a concentration (diam. 0.3m; D 0.15m) that was probably a hearth placed over a small pit (diam. 0.24m; D 0.24) (Eogan 2012, 144-7). Six clay crucible fragments and the remains of 4 heating trays were recovered. The trays were made from a fine whitish clay and were used for refining precious metals. Residues indicate that both silver and a little gold-working was conducted, but the quantities are relatively small. (Barton-Murray and Bayley 2012, 526-31) True location: ITM (699615, 773421) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020 See attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Plan of metalworking, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:39

• ME019-030082 Metalworking site
  Description

  Five areas with metalworking activity associated with features from the first millennium AD were recovered in excavation at the Knowth cemetery of prehistoric passage tombs. This is metalworking area 4, which is an isolated area on the summit of the great mound at SW and on the line of the inner fosse of the rath (ME019-030040-). It consists of a charcoal-filled pit (dims 0.65m x 0.52m), two furnace-bottoms with reddened clay attached, and areas of slag and pits. (Eogan 2012, 151-3) True location: ITM (699594, 773432) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Plan of metalworking, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:44

• ME019-030083 Metalworking site
  Description

  Five areas with metalworking activity associated with features from the first millennium AD were recovered in excavation at the Knowth cemetery of prehistoric passage tombs. This is metalworking area 5, located c. 30m SE of the great mound where most structures had been eroded away by later agricultural activity but these features were preserved in a narrow trench (dims 8m ENE-WSW; Wth 0.88-1.16m; D 0.21-0.41m). Towards the W end was a spread of ash and a furnace pit dug into shale without a clay lining. It was re-used several times as several furnace bottoms were nearby and the greatest accumulation of iron slag was in this area. There was a second ash spread c. 1m to the E and a shallow gully (L 3.4m) extended S from between the two spreads. There was a cobbled area further E in the trench, and over 150 kg of slag in total was recovered. (Eogan 2012, 169-70) True location: ITM (699671, 773392) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 21 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Early medieval features, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:1 _2 Plan of metalworking, from Knowth 5, Fig. 4:53

• ME019-030084 Slab-lined burial
  Description

  Located c. 30m W of the great mound and c. 20m S of Tomb 9. Four slab-lined burials were placed side by side, creating a small cemetery. The graves were lined with upright slabs and had stone bases as well as covering stones. They were generally aligned NE-SW with the heads at NE. Some of the cists (dims c. 1.8m x 0.56m; D 0.24m) were damaged. One probable male aged c. 17 and one female aged c. 25 were interred together with the heads at NE. Another cist contained only some teeth and the fourth was empty. A radiocarbon date of 1210 +- 28 bp (cal. AD 710-891) was returned from one of the burials. The graves are conserved in situ. (Eogan 2012, 57-61; O’Brien 2012, 61-71) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 21 September 2020 See attached illustration: _1 Plan of burials, from Knowth 5, Fig. 3:6 O’Brien, E. 2012 3. 2. 1. Knowth Secondary Burials – Proto-historic and Historic Period. In G. Eogan, 2012, 61-71. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy

• ME019-030085 Ceremonial stone setting
  Description

  Four areas with stone settings were established outside the kerb of Tomb 1C, the most elaborate being outside the entrances to the E and W tombs but another is just SE of the mound. Two small related areas are adjacent to Tomb 16, and a fifth setting is associated with Tomb 4. Just 2m outside the entrance at NE to Tomb 4 a circular area paved with quartz (diam. c. 1.6m) is enclosed by 2 settings of contiguous, low stones (ext. diam. c. 2.8-3m) set upright, but all the elements only survived only E-S-W as the rest is destroyed by a later pit. This feature is conserved in situ. (Eogan 1984, 38) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020 See the attached illustrations: _1 Plan of the cemetery, from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1 _2 Plan of Tomb 4, from Knowth 1, Fig. 15

• ME019-030086 Ceremonial stone setting
  Description

  Four areas with stone settings were established outside the kerb of Tomb 1C, the most elaborate being outside the entrances to the E and W tombs but another is just SE of the mound. Two small related areas are adjacent to Tomb 16, and a fifth setting is associated with Tomb 4. Outside the entrance to Tomb 1C West is a line (L c. 23m N-S) of 16 irregularly spaced (0.2-4m) stones positioned 1.2-4m from the kerb, including one standing stone and other exotic, water-rolled boulders. The line delimits an area around the entrance where there are four small stone settings, but two settings and some boulders W of the line and situated between Tombs 6 and 8, are also considered part of the complex. Stone 9 in the delimiting line is a standing stone of quartz sandstone with a rectangular cross-section (dims 0.37m x 0.35m; total H 2.56m) placed opposite the entrance stone (K 74) of the tomb. It has highly polished surfaces, some with faint motifs. The stone has been re-erected in its socket and, although the passage of Tomb 1C West is not aligned precisely on the setting sun at the equinox, the shadow of the standing stone at sunset on those occasions does cross the art of the entrance kerbstone like the pointer of a gnomon. A limestone piece with a natural solution hole located W of the delimiting line provides the third point in an alignment with the standing stone and the vertical groove in the entrance kerbstone. A perfectly finished conical sandstone object with a circular cross-section (L 25.5cm; max. diam. 3.9cm) was found beside the standing stone. It is decorated with three incised U-shaped grooves and one oval one near the base, but its most striking feature is a deeply incised groove running most of its length with ten penannular incised grooves dependant from it. However, the tip (L 7cm) is free of decoration(Eogan and Cleary 2017, 444-6). Six stone settings (dims 1.2m to 2.25m x 1.8m) defined by contiguous stones set on edge can be circular or oval but two of them are U-shaped, abutting kerbstones of the great mound, and all seem to have been originally designed with openings. The interior of the settings are devoid of exotic stones, although most are in an area (max. dims 16m N-S; c. 7m E-W) with a spread of such material, especially quartz, outside the entrance to Tomb 1C West. However, this spread is not confined by the line of exotic stones or any other boundary. These features are conserved outside the entrance to Tomb 1C West. (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 216-32) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020 See the attached illustration: _1 Plan of ceremonial stone setting, from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:51 _2 Drawing of idol from Knowth 6, Fig: 6, 11

• ME019-030087 Ceremonial stone setting
  Description

  Four areas with stone settings were established outside the kerb of Tomb 1C, the most elaborate being outside the entrances to the E and W tombs but another is just SE of the mound. Two small related areas are adjacent to Tomb 16, and a fifth setting is associated with Tomb 4. Outside the entrance to Tomb 1C East there are seven stone settings that were covered in a D-shaped spread of exotic stones (dims c. 16m N-S; c. 5m E-W; max. D 0.4m) centred on the entrance to the tomb, although the original extent of this spread may have been greater. One setting (diam. 1.25m) is just outside the entrance kerbstone (K11) and there are three to the N and two to the S, most abutting kerbstones of the great mound. The settings are small (dims 0.7-2m) and defined by contiguous low stones set on edge, some with gaps in the perimeters and most with cobbled surfaces. The principal stone setting (diam. 4.2m N-S; 3.3m plus E-W)is opposite the entrance kerbstone (K11) to the tomb and its centre was slightly dished. It was also paved, with two layers of stones in places, and when excavated it was covered with a patchy spread of quartz chips. Dispersed 0.25m outside the perimeter were 14 surviving stones of an arc SW-N, including a standing stone opposite the tomb entrance. This is a limestone with a rectangular cross-section (dims 0.23m x 0.2m; L 1.6m) which had been lying on the spread of exotic stones but is now set upright. These features are conserved outside the entrance to Tomb 1C East. Although Tomb 1C has no solar alignment with the rising sun at the equinox, the shadow of this stone does fall on K11 at that time. (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 232-40) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020 See the attached illustration: _1 Plan of stone settings, from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:53

• ME019-030088 Ceremonial stone setting
  Description

  Four areas with stone settings were established outside the kerb of Tomb 1C, the most elaborate being outside the entrances to the E and W tombs but another is just SE of the mound. Two small related areas are adjacent to Tomb 16, and a fifth setting is associated with Tomb 4. This is a circular spread of exotic stones (diam. c. 5m x c. 4.5m; max. D 0.15m) beside kerbstones 27 and 28 of Tomb 1C, which are both richly decorated at the SE edge of the great mound. The hollow was filled with a clay and stone mix, including quartz stones, and c. 3m to the E was the stump of what might have been a standing stone in a shallow stony socket. There is no further elaboration at this spread but this point also provides the best view of the back or NW side of the great mound at Newgrange (ME019-045----), and stratigraphically it is earlier than the Beaker habitation of Concentration E (ME019-030036-). It is not conserved. (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 240-3) True location: ITM (699656, 773425) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020

• ME019-030089 Ceremonial stone setting
  Description

  Four areas with stone settings were established outside the kerb of Tomb 1C, the most elaborate being outside the entrances to the E and W tombs but another is just SE of the mound. Two small related areas are adjacent to Tomb 16, and a fifth setting is associated with Tomb 4. Just 2m NW of Tomb 16 and abutting kerbstone 126 of Tomb 1C is a setting of low stones (diam. 1.3m) set on edge although some of the stones are displaced, and the centre is paved with small stones. Just 2m SE of Tomb 16 and 0.7m out from kerbstone 2 of the great mound four stones on edge defined a small pit or socket. It is not known if the socket supported anything, but given that standing stones are associated with other stone settings it may have surrounded one, or even a wooden post. These features are not conserved. (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 243-46) True location: ITM (669639, 773482) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020

• ME019-030090 Ogham stone
  Description

  There are two stones with ogham inscriptions in the passage of Tomb 1C East and three similar inscriptions (ME019-030091-) in the passage of Tomb 1C West at Knowth. The ogham is a scholastic exercise and depicted with a central incised stem rather than using the arris or angle of an upright stone. Orthostat 56 in the E chamber has an inscription which could have many interpretations but with abbreviations the most likely is: OMA TALLURG MO MENMAM - the cave (úama) of Tallurg, of the tribe of Menman. Variations of Tolarg as a personal name occur amongst the Pictish kings in the seventh and eight centuries, and one half-king of south Brega bore the name in the ninth century. Menma is attested in a tenth century genealogy of the Ciannachta. A second ogham inscription is lightly incised on corbel 41 in the S recess of the E chamber. It can have various interpretations but the most likely is: BREQAI, which is almost identical to an ogham inscription (No. 3) in the W tomb. It is a version of Breccán, a proper name and an eponym of the church of Ardbraccan (ME025-022----). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 21 September 2020

• ME019-030091 Ogham stone
  Description

  There are two stones with ogham inscriptions in the passage (ME019-030090-) of Tomb 1C East and three similar inscriptions in the passage of Tomb 1C West at Knowth. The ogham is a scholastic exercise and depicted with a central incised stem rather than using the arris or angle of an upright stone. Orthostat 28 in the W tomb has an inscription that is best represented as: BREQBOIS but no satisfactory explanation or precedent is available. Ogham No. 4 on orthostat 30 is best interpreted as: TOIMTINAN, which is similar to a cursive inscription (No. 1) in the E tomb (ME019-030092-). It is derived from the verbal noun Toimtiu - the act of thinking and might be latinised as Cogitosus. The personal name Teimne also occurs in the genealogies of the Ciannachta. Ogham No. 5 on orthostat 41 is best interpreted as: BLADM. This is an abbreviation of Bladmac, a proper name that occurs in the genealogies of Síl nÁedo Sláine in the seventh and eight centuries. (Byrne 2008, 105-06, 07-08, 116-17) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020

• ME019-030092 Inscribed slab
  Description

  There are 16 inscriptions in cursive or uncial lettering engraved on six stones in the passage of Tomb 1C East at Knowth and two similar inscriptions (ME019-030093-) occur on a single stone in the W tomb. The words are usually inscribed in a vertical list, and some are proper names but they are often meaningless and some could be incomplete. Corbel 40 over the backstone of the S recess of the E tomb has five names (1-5) inscribed but the last two are increasingly illegible. They are: Teimtennac, Teim, Imgm. Corbel 41 over the W orthostat in the S recess has a single inscription (6) in cursive: brc (o) (i) s. Orthostat 45 on the S side of the W recess has 7 inscriptions (7-13) in cursive: These can be read as: Conan, Snedchert, Garbleter, Soborchonbar, Scoldemab, (b)…lon, and ma (c). Inscription 14 which is on Orthostat 56 on the N side of the W recess has a single word in cursive: dub. Inscriptions No. 17 on corbel 37 and No. 18 on Corbel 49 are illegible. (Byrne 2008) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020 See the attached image, from Knowth 4, Plate A1:1

• ME019-030093 Inscribed slab
  Description

  There are 16 inscriptions (ME019-030092-) in cursive or uncial lettering engraved on six stones in the E passage of Tomb 1 at Knowth and two similar inscriptions on a single stone in the W tomb. Orthostat 28 in the W tomb has the name ‘Brec’ and ‘oic’ inscribed in majuscule, but this stone also has the name BREQBIOS in ogham (ME019-030089-). (Byrne 2008, 95) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020

• ME019-030094 Standing stone
  Description

  Outside the entrance to Tomb 1C West amongst the ceremonial stone settings (ME019-030086-) is a standing stone (dims 0.37m x 0.35m; total H 2.56m) placed opposite the entrance stone (K 74) of the tomb. It has highly polished surfaces, some with faint motifs surviving on its E face. It may have fallen shortly after its erection as there was no spread of quartz stones beneath it. The stone has been re-erected in its socket and, although the passage of Tomb 1C West is not aligned on the setting sun at the equinox, the shadow of the standing stone at sunset on those occasions does cross the art of the entrance kerbstone like the pointer of a gnomon. (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 219-23) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020 See the attached image: _1 from SW

• ME019-030095 Standing stone
  Description

  Outside the entrance to Tomb 1C East amongst the ceremonial stone settings (ME019-030087-) is a standing stone (D) opposite the tomb entrance. This is a limestone with a rectangular cross-section (dims 0.23m x 0.2m; L 1.6m) which had been lying on the spread of exotic stones but is now set upright in its original socket in the outer line of slabs of the principal stone setting. Although Tomb 1C has no solar alignment with the rising sun at the equinox, the shadow of this stone does fall on K11 at that time. (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 238-9) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020

• ME019-030096 Settlement cluster
  Description

  The Cistercians of Mellifont abbey retained their land at Knowth until the monastery was suppressed in 1539, after which the Knowth land was leased to a succession of investors including Laurence Townley, and William Brabazon, head of the Irish exchequer, who held it until 1566 when it passed to Edward Moore. This family would hold extensive estates in the Meath / Louth area for generations. A patent of 1612 confirmed the possessions of Garrett Moore, Baron of Mellifont, who became Viscount Moore of Drogheda in 1621. Amongst the estates was the parish of Monknewtown which included Knowth townland, but this territory incorporated what is now Crewbane townland to the west. The victory of the Protestant King William III at the battle of the Boyne in 1689 secured the estates of the loyal Moore family for another century and more, although Knowth would be sold by them in 1729 to Andrew Caldwell. Caldwell was related by marriage to the Campbells who leased Newgrange from the Moore estate, and he would later purchase this townland and the neighbouring Balfeddock. This unified holding was surveyed for him by Richard Scalé (NLI: 21F 78 (63)) in 1766 (Stout 2002, 130-1). The land itself was farmed by tenants of various degrees, from large strong farmers to small cottiers, who generally declined in status and wealth as the eighteenth century progressed. This is the period when the landscape took on much of its present appearance, although the details of land divisions were rarely recorded in full. There was ample opportunity for sub-letting, and leaseholdings were frequently subdivided in order to support a growing agricultural population with limited economic opportunities that could be sustained in small plots on the land thanks to potatoes. By the middle of the eighteenth century the Berrill family were the chief tenants at Knowth, where a cluster of houses was developing along the road just NE of the great mound as recorded in Scalé’s survey. This area was being leased by Andrew Maguire in 1766 but in the early nineteenth century much of the area N of the road was let by the Caldwells to John Cooper while the Maguire family continued to hold most of their acreage south of the road. (Jenkins 2008) The cluster of houses at Knowth, first recorded in Scalé’s map, was one of several in the area developing in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. There was also a clustered settlement at Newgrange farm, another at Craud, and possibly another at Ballinacrad. At Knowth, according to the Scalé survey, there were four houses on the NE side of the public road and five on the SW side. Two of the latter were not at the roadside but further into the field with the great mound. This scheme is replicated in the 1836 edition of the OS 6-inch map where there is a small yard fronting onto the SW side of the road as it changes direction from NW-SE to SW-NE. Knowth House, the home of the Maguire family, is identified on the map and was described in the OS Name Books as ‘a ground floor slated farm house’ (ibid. 210), typical of the houses of strong farmers of the era. By 1913 when the next large scale OS maps were made the houses on the NE side of the road are either derelict or incorporated into outhouses of Knowth House, which had been rebuilt as the present two story, four by two bay house in the 1870s (ibid. 220). In contrast all the structures depicted on the SW side of the road had been removed. Eogan was not able to excavate on the sites of the mapped houses SW of the road, but test-trenching in the area between the mound and the road produced evidence of seven other post-medieval structures that did not appear on any survey, showing just how incomplete the mapping evidence of a well-documented area can be. The houses (max. ext. dims c. 10m x c. 5m) have drystone bases to the walls, although it is possible that these are just the bases of cob or mud walls. Some of the houses have rounded external corners as some of the medieval houses had. One of the post-medieval houses, No. 15, is just SE of the great mound and was fully excavated. It is rectangular (int. dims c. 4.3m plus ENE-WSW; c. 3.3m NNW-SSE) defined by double-faced walls (Wth c. 0.8m; H c. 0.5m) with sharp external corners. Its E wall is entirely missing but it has a paved floor. No features such as a doorway, hearth or window is identified, but it does re-use a stone with megalithic art, which is placed in a prominent position on the outer face of the N wall as well as a medieval quernstone. This house is conserved. (Eogan 2012, 187-200) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020 See the attached illustration: _1 adapted from Scale (1766) in Knowth 5, Fig. 6:4

• ME019-030097 House - 18th century
  Description

  Eogan was not able to excavate on the sites of the mapped houses of the post-medieval settlement SW of the road, but test-trenching in the area between the mound and the road produced evidence of seven other post-medieval structures that did not appear on any survey, showing just how incomplete the mapping evidence of a well-documented area can be. The houses (max. ext. dims c. 10m x c. 5m) have drystone bases to the walls, although it is possible that these are just the bases of cob or mud walls. Some of the houses can have rounded external corners as some of the medieval houses had. One of the post-medieval house, No. 15, is just SE of the great mound and was fully excavated. It is rectangular (int. dims c. 4.3m plus ENE-WSW; c. 3.3m NNW-SSE) defined by double-faced walls (Wth c. 0.8m; H c. 0.5m) with sharp external corners. Its E wall is entirely missing but it has a paved floor. No features such as a doorway, hearth or window is identified, but it does re-use a stone with megalithic art, which is placed in a prominent position on the outer face of the N wall as well as a medieval quernstone. This house is conserved. (Eogan 2012, 187-20) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 September 2020 See the attached illustration: _1 House plan, from Knowth 5, Fig. 6:9

• ME019-038 Promontory fort - inland
  Description

  Roughly circular area defined by scarp NW-SE with external fosse and by natural scarp down to river Boyne and a small tributary SSE-NW (diam. 63m). Entrance and causeway at ENE (O'Kelly 1978, 62-3). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

And 11 more.

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Knowth.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

About 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility high, moderately high, moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map; parts are water.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Knowth.

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Knowth with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Meath.

Name

Knowth · Cnóbha

Area

1,272,165 m² (127.22 ha, 314.36 acres)

Civil parish

Monknewtown, and its townlands

Barony

Slane Upper

Electoral division

Mellifont, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Mellifont electoral division: 573 people in 197 households; 85% of households own their home; 24% of homes were built since 2001; 7% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 2% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Balfeddock, Crewbane, Monknewtown, Newgrange, Rossnaree

Placenames

Knowth on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.