House - Neolithic

The National Monuments Service's description

This habitation site (Structure B), located to the W of Tomb 1 and beneath Tomb 8, is part of Eogan's Phase 2 Later 'Western' Neolithic Complex (Eogan and Roche 1997, 6) which is dated to c. 3600-3500 cal. BC with the aid of Bayesian analysis (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 39-40). The excavated remains consisted of a subrectangular area (ext. dims 12.3m N-S; 10.1m E-W; int. dims 10.7m N-S; 9.1m E-W) defined by a continuous trench with a possible entrance gap (Wth c. 1m) at the NE corner. The trench was re-dug (L 8.4m; Wth 0.8-1.5m; max. D 0.97m) at W where it was filled with occupation debris and 11 post-holes were recorded in its base. An area of ash with a spread of burnt earth is probably a hearth close to the centre and a small area of paving (dims 2.4m x 1.7m) and some pits are also in the interior. About 45 vessels of Later Western Neolithic pottery have been recovered from this area and the enclosure (ME019-030021-) (Eogan and Roche 1997, 43-6). (Eogan 1984 211-19)

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 plans:
_1 Cemetery plan from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1
_2 House plan from Knowth 1, Fig. 75

References

Eogan, G. and Cleary, K. 2017 Excavations at Knowth 6: The Passage Tomb Archaeology of the Great Mound at Knowth. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin

Eogan, G. and Roche, H. 1997 Excavations at Knowth 2. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy Monographs in Archaeology.

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