Index Satellites at Knowth The East Passage The West Passage Engravings Astronomy Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Site 7 Site 8 Site 9 Site 10 Site 11 Site 12 Site 13 Site 14 Site 15 Site 16 Site 17 Newgrange Dowth Loughcrew

Knowth Knowth is both the largest and most remarkable ancient monument in Ireland. Though Newgrange is more famous and Dowth is possibly older, Knowth has turned out to be a very interesting and important site with a collection of 261 engraved stones and some finely carved artifcts from the neolithic builders. The main mound is surrounded by at least eighteen smaller structures, many of which have or had engraved slabs. Knowth is located on a ridge 1 km north-west of Newgrange, and is the closest of the three mounds to the River Boyne. It is the largest chambered cairn in Ireland with a diameter of 95 by 85 m. The mound has two passages and chambers which were re-opened by the chief excavator, George Eogan in the late 60's. Both have turned out to be the longest megalithic passages in Europe, with many engravings on the orthostats. Knowth has the largest collection of megalithic art in from neolithic western Europe, and accounts for some 50% of the total engraved megalithic stones in Ireland. Knowth was probably the equivelant of a huge library in the stone age world, perhaps part of the neolithic university of the ancient Boyne Valley.