Knowth

Knowth
Cnóbha
Aerial view
Knowth is located in Ireland
Knowth
Shown within Ireland
LocationCounty Meath, Ireland
Coordinates53°42′04″N 6°29′30″W / 53.701°N 6.4916°W / 53.701; -6.4916
Typepassage grave
Part ofBrú na Bóinne
History
Foundedc. 3200 BC
PeriodsNeolithic
TypeCultural
Criteriai, iii, iv
Designated1993 (17th session)
Part ofBrú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne
Reference no.659
Official nameKnowth Passage Tomb & Knowth Mound
Reference no.409 & 549

Knowth (/ˈnθ/; Irish: Cnóbha)[1] is a prehistoric monument overlooking the River Boyne in County Meath, Ireland. It comprises a large passage tomb surrounded by 17 smaller tombs, built during the Neolithic era around 3200 BC. It contains the largest assemblage of megalithic art in Europe. Knowth is part of the Brú na Bóinne complex, a World Heritage Site that also includes the similar passage tombs of Newgrange and Dowth.

After its initial period of use, Knowth gradually became a ruin, although the area continued to be a site of ritual activity in the Bronze Age. During the early Middle Ages, a royal residence was built on top of the great mound, which became the seat of the Kings of Knowth or Northern Brega. Archaeologist George Eogan led an extensive investigation of the site from the 1960s to 1980s, and parts of the monument were reconstructed.

  1. ^ "Cnóbha/Knowth". Placenames Database of Ireland.