Knockroe Passage Tomb

Knockroe Passage Tomb

The western chamber
Shown within Ireland
Location	Knockroe, County Kilkenny
Coordinates	52°25′54″N 7°23′59″W
OS grid reference	S 408 312
Type	Passage tomb
History
Periods	Neolithic

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".

It is National Monument no. 655, managed by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the state.^[1][2]

Description

There 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

• List of National Monuments in County Kilkenny
• List of megalithic monuments in Ireland
• Irish megalithic tombs

References

1. "Knockroe: Passage Tomb KK034-019001". mega-what.com. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
2. "Kilkenny Castle and Grounds the most visited OPW site in Ireland last year". kclr96fm.com. KCLR 96FM. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
3. "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.
4. "Knockroe Passage Tomb". megalithicireland.com. Megalithic Ireland. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
5. "Knockroe Passage Tomb". discoverireland.ie. Discover Ireland. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
6. "Knockroe Passage Tomb" (PDF). South Kilkenny Historical Society. Retrieved 16 January 2020.