Megalithic tomb - passage tomb

The National Monuments Service's description

Knowth cemetery, Tomb 12: Situated c. 17m NW of the great mound, Tomb 1C, and just 2m NE of Tomb 11. This is the remains of a kerbed mound(ext. diam. c. 14.7m) of dark shale material (max. H 0.75m)lying over a cairn around the central tomb and the original humus. The kerb is represented by 6 kerbstones in situ N-E and 4 displaced kerbstones at SW. At the centre one orthostat and the sockets of 13 others represent an undifferentiated passage tomb (L 6.75m plus; Wth 0.3-1.5m) opening to the S. The backstone had fallen into the chamber and the sillstone had broken off. A small sample of cremated remains with fragments of two bone pins were in the chamber. A kerbstone has two motifs of concentric circles, and the backstone of the tomb has stippling. A dressed ovoid sandstone piece (L 0.5m; diam. c. 0.3m) with pick-dressed lines cut around both ends and broader vertical rills in the central area was found just outside the kerb and could be a religious fetish or idol. The mound is completely reconstructed. (Eogan 1968, 315-23, Site 4; 1984, 66-72, Site 12; 1986, 77-8)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 10 July 2007
Amended: 16 September 2020

See the attached images:
_1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1
_2 Tomb plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 35
_3 Sandstone idol

References

Eogan, G. 1968 Excavations at Knowth, Co. Meath, 1962-1965. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 66C, No. 4, 299-400.

Eogan, G. 1986 Knowth and the passage-tombs of Ireland. London. Thames and Hudson.

Eogan, G. 1984 Excavations at Knowth 1. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.