Knockroe Passage Tomb is a prehistoric site, of the Neolithic period, in the townland of Knockroe in County Kilkenny, Ireland, about 10 km north of Carrick-on-Suir. It is known locally as "The Caiseal".
 The western chamber | |
  Shown within Ireland | |
| Location | Knockroe, County Kilkenny |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°25′54″N 7°23′59″W / 52.43167°N 7.39972°W |
| OS grid reference | S 408 312 |
| Type | Passage tomb |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
It is National Monument no. 655, managed by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the state.[1][2]
Description
editThere are two chambers on the site: the larger western chamber is aligned so that sunlight at sunset at the winter solstice shines along the passageway.[3] There is artwork on many of the stones lining the passageway. Quartz is scattered around the site: this may have formed a wall at the entrances. The chambers would originally have been covered with earth.[4][5][6]
There are similarities with the tombs at Newgrange and Knowth (both in County Meath).[5][6]
Excavations, led by Muiris O'Sullivan of the Department of Archaeology at University College Dublin, have been conducted for several years at the site.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ "Knockroe: Passage Tomb KK034-019001". mega-what.com. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Kilkenny Castle and Grounds the most visited OPW site in Ireland last year". kclr96fm.com. KCLR 96FM. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ^ "Newgrange of the south-east? Knockroe Passage Tomb has its own claim to fame". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Knockroe Passage Tomb". megalithicireland.com. Megalithic Ireland. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Knockroe Passage Tomb". discoverireland.ie. Discover Ireland. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Knockroe Passage Tomb" (PDF). South Kilkenny Historical Society. Retrieved 16 January 2020.