Knowth (Cnoghba) - megalithic sister site of Newgrange

Knowth from the air.

While Newgrange is by far the most famous of the three Boyne Valley passage-tombs, Knowth is by far the most impressive in terms of megalithic art, scale and layered history. Knowth contains one quarter of all known megalithic art in Europe, has two passages, and a total of 18 smaller "satellite mounds". The site was excavated and thoroughly investigated archaeologically over a period of 40 years and is now open to the public who can visit through the Brú na Bóinne Visitors' Centre in nearby Donore.

There are two passages at Knowth (Newgrange has one) which face, roughly speaking, towards the east and towards the west. A long-held theory that the passages were aligned towards sunrise and sunset on the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes has, in recent years, been found to be untrue. A new theory, backed by scientific data about the orientation of these passages, points towards a lunar function for Knowth.

This lunar function is backed up by research which claims that the builders of this monument had a good working knowledge of the complicated movements of the Moon. Such knowledge would have enabled the builders to predict eclipses and other astronomical events. Some of the many carvings on the 127 kerbstones at Knowth could be representations of lunar counts and calculations.

Megalithic art inside Knowth. Click here to see the decorated kerbs,

It is probably Knowth's astonishing quantity of art which makes it more impressive than Newgrange. Many of the kerbstones are decorated, while there is significant decoration in both passages and inside some of the satellite monuments.

There was significant activity at Knowth over a long period of time. Archaeologist, Professor George Eogan, found that there were 10 separate phases of activity at the site from the earliest times to the modern era. There may have been settlement at Knowth as early as 6,000 years ago.

During the Iron Age, the site was fortified and a huge ditch dug around the mound. In later times, Knowth became a significant site as the capital of the kingdom of Brega.

There are some very ancient myths about Knowth and how it got its name. One story relates that a noble woman, Bua, was buried there and the "great hill" was built up over her. These placename myths are still in existence today, in a collection called the Dindshenchas.

The flint macehead found at Knowth.

There are a total of 18 smaller satellite mounds around the main mound, many of which had their own stone passages. Some also contain megalithic art.

A number of very significant finds and artefacts have been uncovered during 40 years of excavations at Knowth. A flint macehead, a stone phallus and a giant stone basin are among the interesting items found.

During the late stages of excavation, Mythical Ireland gained exclusive access to Knowth, thanks to the archaeologist, Prof. Eogan. Some features on this site include a comprehensive pictorial overview of the decorated kerbstones at Knowth, as well as exclusive photos of megalithic art in the western passage.

Also featured are studies of the sunlight penetrating the western passage around the time of the equinox.

A four-feet granite stone basin in the Eastern passage of Knowth may be engraved with a map of the city of Atlantis, as Plato described it. The three concentric circles match the three concentric lakes of Atlantis, according to a Swedish academic.

Knowth Kerbstones