County: Meath Site name: KNOWTH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Dr. G. Eogan, Department of Archaeology, University College Dublin
Site type: Megalithic tombs- passage tombs
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 699830m, N 773818m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.704500, -6.488000
During this season work was mainly concentrated on the investigation of a Beaker area on the north-eastern side of the site. Over an irregularly shaped area that was 19 x 14 m in maximum extent there was a layer of occupation debris. This was dark in colour and it immediately overlay the old ground surface. The layer was 20 cm in maximum thickness but it thinned off towards the edges. This layer contained sherds of pottery that appears to be coarse domestic ware, fine ware was exceedingly rare. Some utilized flints also turned up the most distinctive of which was a hollow-based arrowhead. Underneath the ‘occupation’ layer a number of shallow pits dug into the boulder clay were found. These were filled with similar ‘occupation’ material and some contained sherds of pottery. Two fire places were also found. No evidence for a house site came to light.
Close to the Beaker material a souterrain was excavated. This consisted of a main passage, a chamber and a lateral passage which joined the main chamber. It is not well preserved, nearly all the capstones of the passage are missing and the chamber has also been damaged. The main passage was 21m, in overall length and it has a number of bends. It averaged 1m in height and 80cm in width. The digging of a drain removed part of the chamber. At ground level this measured about 2.5m in length by about 2.1m in width. The roof was corbelled. The lateral passage which adjoins the main passage at about mid-point is 4m in length.
Investigations also continued on portion of the Early Christian settlement on the top of the large mound. There another rectangular house-site is coming to light. Areas of paving and hearths are also being uncovered.
Click on the link below for the Royal Irish Academy's online resource for Knowth Excavations:
