Knowth
Knowth ( Irish: Cnobha ) as part of the Brú na Bóinne complex, a large collection of prehistoric megalithic sites in Donore in the Boyne Valley, County Meath in Ireland. It consists of the main hill and around 20 smaller satellite systems which are 1 km north- west of Newgrange, 2 km west of Dowth. The main hill exceeds in size almost all megalithic sites in Ireland.
History of Research
Already from 1940 excavations were carried out by RAS MacAllister. At this time the satellite systems were still undiscovered. Only in a few places individual stones ranged over the turf beyond. ( Obtained 17) The main hill to the west and Ostanlage and once the 20 contiguous passage tombs were excavated by George Eogan 1962 in 25 years of work.
Architecture
The plant is probably older than Newgrange, is dated to about 3150 BC. The main hill contains a grave with an indefinite chamber and one with a cross chamber, the chamber ceiling consists of a false vault. Also located in the hill, also known as Knowth 1 numerous tombs recently, and several medieval basement.
The satellite tombs surround the main hill circular. Some can be found, however, at a greater distance. Eight of the satellite systems have an indefinite, six cross- chamber. Knowth has extremely large number of decorated wall tiles in the corridors and chambers of the main hill but also in some satellite systems. Eogan speaks of all in all, extrapolated missing stones, 300 decorated stones. After Eogan, and Twohig represent the carvings, although they are represented in both chamber types, different styles. Eogan speaks of angular ( square) at Newgrange and rectilinear ( rectangular).
The main hill
The main oval hill has a diameter of 80 m and 95 m (275 m circumference) and is about 10 m high. He was, ( each 2 meters long), surrounded inside the edge of the stone circle 127 stone blocks from a much later created the trench. A break in the border stone circle located at satellite No. 16 Since this already existed before the application of the Ostgrabes was taken this into consideration when creating the boundary stone circle. His approach was transferred to a newly created bent gear, unique in the megalithic architecture of Ireland. The mound construction was carried out in layers of sod, Lehmbrocken, pebbles and slate.
West - grave
The older West grave is 34 m long. Before access are the remains of horseshoe-shaped or round stone settings. They are usually built close to the curbs of the hill. The passage and the chamber consist of 80 wall and ceiling 32 stones. In the hallway a decorated shell stone ( stone basin ) was found, which originally stood in the chamber. The opposite the transition only slightly expanding and enhancing chamber is separated by a high threshold stone of the aisle. Also the head end of the chamber is divided by two upright pieces in axially opposite sectors. Before the entrance of the passage, there are two standing stones, one of which, while the other is tall and narrow small and almost round.
East grave
The younger Ostgrab is about 40 m long. His gait is tombs with 30 sqm longest of any passage. The 9 m high corbelled chamber of the Cross is the highest in Ireland. The horizontally placed stones of the corridor are toward the middle, where the load increases through the hills, sometimes broken or side stones of the corridor are tilted in the aisle. In the middle of a cobblestone floor space, which is just outside the entrance, once stood a small menhir. Six more horseshoe-shaped or round, but unpaved stone settings are close to the curbs of the hill ( between 8 and 14). The entrance stone before the transition (No. 74 ) is provided with special linear markings, which differ significantly in the style of the spiral patterns of Newgrange and the Westray Stones. In the right niche is one called " Dagda 's Couldron " designated shell stone on which presumably the ashes of the dead was laid. A spiral decorated bulbous head, which was discovered in the plant, shows analogies to artifacts of Grooved ware.
The satellite
The satellite with diameters up to 22 m are substantially smaller. Many were discovered during the excavation and were more or less destroyed. At least some are older than the main hill since two of them were rebuilt to make room for the boundary stones of the main hill. The aisles of many satellites seem to be aimed at Knowth 1, which again raises the question of whether the main hill has had a predecessor. Also, some satellite tombs (No. 2 8) contain engraved orthostat and shell stones in the chamber.
West of Knowth 1 was a larger area earlier Neolithic activity. Open up a subrechteckige structure, the pits, a house, flock, palisades and a paved area was included. The subrechteckige structure of 12 x 10 m was the construction of new satellite grave no. 8 destroyed.
The U-shaped, bounded by ditches surface was interrupted at the northeast corner. On the west side was the ditch, with a series of 11 round post holes about 15 cm in diameter at the lowest. On the other side the depth was much lower.
Among the structures inside the walled area were: a paved area, a stove, which lay between the pavement and the entrance. Two smaller herd were also discovered. Within the enclosed area were also seven pits, one of which dated one so far as the trenches rather than later, because a part was cut off from it, as the southern trench was dug. All pits were filled with soft, dark earth. The pottery finds within this structure included Western Neolithic ware, with a special one: many shards have cavities that were caused by pebbles. The holes made the vessels for liquids unusable, apparently the polished containers were there for.
There were two curved, reasonably concentric palisade that were 58-59 m long and for which no satisfactory end, could be explored. The Ostgraben is better preserved and shows at irregular intervals several postholes. In the area between the palisades significant activities took place. There were two areas with pebble patches, which show an area of activity but did not belong to a house. There was a small area, occur concentrated in the Flint haircuts and which is considered to be a field of fire stone. The predominant raw material seems to have been pebbles Flint " pebble flint ."
Finds of Western Neolithic goods occurred in considerable quantity. The head end of a Basaltaxt, and two of the three had found arrowheads leaf shape. Interestingly, no hollow scraper to find, and despite the fact no Carrowkeel ware was found, the findings more similar to the material from court tombs.
Most of these satellites have been reconstructed, the hills are made of foam polystyrene and cement and covered with sod.
Knowth Timber Circle
The Knowth Timber Circle (also called Knowth Woodhenge ) was built in 2800-2500 BC near the eastern access of the hill 1.
The Art of Knowth
G. Eogan distinguishes the "Angular " and " Rectilinear style " in Irish megalithic sites. Both styles are represented in Knowth on the orthostat the corridors and chambers, of which there are 45. Square characters that are typical for Barclodiad y Gawres, Four Knocks 1 and Newgrange, Knowth come in the younger Ostgrab ( 12) in the West grave (4) and in grave 16 (6 ) ago. Rectilineare images are in Ostgrab (11 ) and the West grave (10). In addition, the two curbs before the entrances and their ornamentation. Characteristic features are the ornate mace heads of Knowth and the sandstone object of Knowth dar.
The stones
Later used
As a result, Knowth was funeral and possibly used as a ritual space, of which 34 stone boxes and rests of a pile circle testify. During the Iron Age ditches with a protected attachment was created on the main hill. At the beginning of the Christianization built the monks of the Abbey of Mellifont on the hill of stone walls and buildings. Presumably, this plant was operated as a farm in the church property ( engl. Grange ). Until modern times, Knowth was eventually used agriculturally, until the state acquired the plant in 1939.
Visit
Knowth can be visited out in the months of April to October. Guided tours begin at the Brú na Bóinne complex, the visitor center at Newgrange. There are guided tours can only be booked separately to two grave mounds. One can find the visitor center if you follow the signs off the N2 near Slane. Knowth and Newgrange are only there to visit.