The passage tombs of Knowth (Irish: Cnogba) are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Boyne Valley’. They are located within the bend of the River Boyne (Irish: Brú na Bóinne) in Co. Meath, about 8 km from the sea. The megalithic (Greek: mega [big] and lithos [stone]) passage tombs were built during the Neolithic (4000-2500 BC) and are among around 1,400 extant Neolithic tombs in Ireland. The three main Neolithic burial types are court, portal and passage tombs. A passage tomb consists “of a parallel-sided passage leading into a distinct chamber.” They usually contained more than one individual.
The Boyne Valley contains around forty passage tombs, the largest collection of megalithic art in Europe and has always been an ‘important ritual, social and economic centre for thousands of years.’ Knowth contains the biggest passage tombs in Europe. Long-term excavations were carried out by Professor George Eogan at Knowth from 1962 until the late 1990s.
Table of Contents
1. Knowth, Co. Meath (Neolithic settlement and passage tombs)
2. Stages of human activity in the Boyne Valley
3. The significance of the passage tombs
4. Funerary activities and burial rites
5. Excavations and discovery of remains
6. Architecture and structure of the tombs
7. Megalithic art and symbolism
8. External contacts and the Grooved Ware Complex
9. Abandonment and evolution
Objectives and Topics
This work examines the archaeological significance of the Neolithic site of Knowth in Co. Meath, analyzing its development from early settlement stages through the construction of its monumental passage tombs to its later use. The study focuses on burial rites, architectural evolution, and the social dynamics evidenced by domestic and ritual structures.
- Evolution of human activity in the Boyne Valley
- Architectural characteristics of Neolithic passage tombs
- Symbolism and interpretation of megalithic art
- Social stratification and ritual practices in Neolithic Ireland
- Inter-regional cultural connections evidenced by archaeological finds
Excerpt from the Book
The Decorated Pottery Complex during the Middle Neolithic
The Decorated Pottery Complex during the Middle Neolithic is characterised by huge transformations in every aspect of life, including rites and artefacts but also domestic settlement. Palaeobotanical investigations show that during this time, parts of the surrounding forest were cleared, leading to an open farming landscape. Now, the people had not only enough space for living and farming but also for the creation of those huge tombs. The settlement covers an area of 25m by 50m and at least ten circular houses were found. It is suggested that around 12 houses were in contemporary use when the settlement was at its height. Those settlements pre-date the Neolithic passage tombs.
What was the purpose of the settlement? Was it built for the first tomb builders or was it only a farming settlement where several families lived? Was the building of those ritually used passage tombs maybe a result of new settlers coming to Knowth, bringing with them their ritual believes to Knowth? Evidence for this thesis could be that also the style of pottery changed during this time. After 3600BC the building phase of rectangular houses ended, supporting the idea of new people coming to the Boyne Valley. Those people were perhaps not interested in Knowth as a place for settlement, but they saw something in this place that could be the perfect location for their ritually used burial places.
Summary of Chapters
1. Knowth, Co. Meath (Neolithic settlement and passage tombs): Provides a geographical and historical overview of the site as part of the Brú na Bóinne complex.
2. Stages of human activity in the Boyne Valley: Details the chronological progression of settlement and environmental usage at Knowth from early stages to the Bronze and Iron Ages.
3. The significance of the passage tombs: Analyzes the cultural and communal roles these monumental structures played regarding the ancestors and landscape visibility.
4. Funerary activities and burial rites: Discusses the practices surrounding inhumations and cremations, including the demographic evidence found within the chambers.
5. Excavations and discovery of remains: Explores the physical evidence found through long-term archaeological excavations, including human remains and artifact distribution.
6. Architecture and structure of the tombs: Describes the engineering specifics of the Western and Eastern tombs, including materials like orthostats and corbelled roofs.
7. Megalithic art and symbolism: Examines the motifs and carvings on the megalithic stones and their potential roles in communication or ritual identity.
8. External contacts and the Grooved Ware Complex: Investigates the influence of external cultures and imported artifacts, as well as the transition to timber circle architecture.
9. Abandonment and evolution: Reviews the reasons for the eventual disuse of the site and its position within a continuously evolving Neolithic system.
Keywords
Neolithic, Knowth, Boyne Valley, Passage Tombs, Megalithic, Excavation, Burial Rites, Archaeology, Funerary Activity, Grooved Ware, Ornamentation, Prehistory, Brú na Bóinne, Ritual, Settlement
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research?
The research explores the archaeological significance of the Neolithic site of Knowth in Ireland, detailing its construction, usage, and societal importance.
What are the central themes covered in the text?
The central themes include Neolithic burial practices, the architectural evolution of passage tombs, megalithic art, and prehistoric social structures.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The goal is to understand the transformation of the Knowth site over time and to analyze the cultural and ritual meaning behind its elaborate construction.
Which scientific method is primarily applied?
The work utilizes an archaeological and analytical approach, synthesizing findings from major excavations and existing paleo-environmental data.
What topics are analyzed in the main body of the work?
The main body covers settlement stages, the architectural design of Western and Eastern tombs, funerary customs, and the impact of external cultural influences.
Which keywords best describe this archaeological study?
Key terms include Knowth, Neolithic, Passage Tombs, Megalithic, Burial Rites, and Brú na Bóinne.
How did the significance of Knowth change during the Late Neolithic?
During the Late Neolithic, the site moved from a primary focus on passage tombs to the incorporation of open-air enclosures and timber circles associated with the Grooved Ware culture.
What evidence suggests a social elite at Knowth?
The immense effort required for tomb construction, the scale of the earthworks, and the presence of exotic imported artifacts like the flint macehead suggest a complex, stratified society.
Why are the carvings on the stones considered symbolic?
The carvings are viewed as symbolic rather than purely decorative because of their complex, varied motifs and their intentional placement in sacred, ritualized burial spaces.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2019, Ireland in Prehistory. Knowth, Co. Meath (Neolithic settlement and passage tombs), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1420582
