County: Meath Site name: KNOWTH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: George Eogan and Helen Roche, Dept. of Archaeology, University College Dublin
Site type: Megalithic tombs - passage tombs and Habitation sites
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 699429m, N 773517m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.701880, -6.494157
This season's excavation, which lasted for 10 months, was mainly concerned with Neolithic settlement but other features were also investigated, including the kerb of Site 1, Beaker and Early Christian material.
1. 'Western' Neolithic habitation
Previous excavation has uncovered extensive evidence for'Western' Neolithic settlement (Eogan, Excavations at Knowth, (1984), 211-242). This was located to the west of the main mound. This year evidence for an eastward extension of this settlement came to light. The main feature was part of a rectangular house which measures 8.3m by 7.2m and was aligned east-west. Pits and an ash spread were found associated with the house, as well as a large assemblage of 'Western' Neolithic pottery and flint.
2. Passage tomb habitation
An extensive area of habitation was located in the northeastern part of the site (Roche, Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 3, No. 3, 101-103). The area exposed measured 30m by 40m but this is only part of a much larger habitation complex which extends under the mound of Site 1. The main features found were circular houses, pits and hearths. One area appeared to be more intensively settled, having a succession of up to five circular houses, ranging from 6m to 3m in diameter. A circular house with a central hearth was found under the mound of Site 1, squares 18 and 19; another circular house with an off-centre hearth was uncovered in Area 4, squares 2, 3, 8 and 9. The pottery assemblage associated with these features included Carrowkeel ware, 'Western' pottery and 'Sandhills' ware. The flint assemblage consisted mainly of round scrapers, debitage and small re-touched flakes.
3. Passage tombs
A certain amount of excavation was carried out on Site 16 and part of the kerb of Site 1 in order to facilitate final conservation in these areas. During this programme further Neolithic art was uncovered, which was planned and photographed.
4. Beaker
Further evidence for the Beaker settlement was discovered to the north of Site 1. No additional features were uncovered but a quantity of pottery sherds, both decorated and undecorated, came to light.
5. Early Christian
Further evidence for Early Christian habitation was uncovered in the northern part of the site. This included hearths, charcoal spreads and habitation layers. An assemblage of Early Christian artefacts including stick pins, ringed-pins, bone comb fragments, stone hones and spindle-whorls was found in association with this material.
Click on the link below for the Royal Irish Academy's online resource for Knowth Excavations:
