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<< Our Photo Pages >> Knockroe - Passage Grave in Ireland (Republic of) in Co. Kilkenny

Submitted by ainsloch on Monday, 07 May 2018  Page Views: 4434

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Knockroe
Country: Ireland (Republic of) County: Co. Kilkenny Type: Passage Grave
Nearest Town: Carrick-On-Suir  Nearest Village: Windgap
Map Ref: S40863126
Latitude: 52.431741N  Longitude: 7.400002W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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Knockroe
Knockroe submitted by ainsloch : The east passage and chamber (Vote or comment on this photo)
Passage Grave in Co. Kilkenny. Knockroe passage tomb, which dates to approximately 3000 BC, is distinctive for a number of reasons including its extensive assemblage of megalithic art consisting of more than thirty decorated stones positioned in the two chambers and kerb.

(Information from the onsite sign)

Another interesting feature is the midwinter alignment of the two tombs (east and west) to the rising and setting sun on the 21st December. While the passage tomb at Knockroe is considerably smaller than the large tumulus excavated at Knowth in the Boyne Valley in County Meath, similarities in form have been identified by archaeologists.

Archaeological excavation at Knockroe has revealed evidence for multiple burials of cremated human remains within the chambers. A wide range of artefacts, interpretable as grave goods, were found within the cremation deposits including pottery vessels, bone and antler pin fragments, bone bead fragments, pendants and spacer beads. Further archaeological investigation in the vicinity of the passage tomb has revealed cobbling and other indications of activity in the area during a later period, probably medieval times."

Note: When the Sun Stands Still - a film by Pete MacGowan showing the Winter Solstice Sunrise and Sunset alignments at Knockroe - apparently this is the only site in Ireland with these alignments. Also some very recently identified rock art nearby. See the comments on our page for both
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Knockroe
Knockroe submitted by ainsloch : Looking across the east (nearest) and west tombs of Knockroe at sunset December 19th (Vote or comment on this photo)

Knockroe
Knockroe submitted by ainsloch : A close up of the setting sun illuminating the backstones of the western tomb chamber on December 19th (Vote or comment on this photo)

Knockroe
Knockroe submitted by ainsloch : The setting sun illuminating the backstones of the western tomb chamber on December 19th (Vote or comment on this photo)

Knockroe
Knockroe submitted by ainsloch : The sun setting in alignment with the west passage and chamber on December 19th (Vote or comment on this photo)

Knockroe
Knockroe submitted by ainsloch : Site plan from onsite sign

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 2.2km S 169° The Cross of Ages (Kilclispeen)* Ancient Cross (S413291)
 3.6km SE 144° Baunfree* Passage Grave
 5.8km NNW 327° Killamery High Cross Ancient Cross (S377361)
 9.8km ESE 109° Kilmogue standing stone Standing Stone (Menhir)
 9.9km ESE 109° Kilmogue portal tomb* Portal Tomb
 13.1km S 179° Ballyquin* Portal Tomb (S411182)
 13.1km NE 43° Kilree Monastery* Ancient Cross
 18.3km ENE 61° St Nicholas's Grave (Newtown Jerpoint) Early Christian Sculptured Stone (S56794042)
 20.0km E 101° Three Friars* Stone Row / Alignment
 25.0km WSW 250° St Patrick's Holy Well (Clonmel) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (S173227)
 25.5km SW 220° Tooreen W Stone Row / Alignment (S245117)
 26.9km SW 223° Knockanaffrin* Standing Stones (S227114)
 26.9km SW 223° Carrigeen Standing Stone (Menhir) (S228113)
 27.1km SW 223° Kilkeany Stone Circle (S225112)
 27.5km SW 222° Comeraghglin NE Stone Circle (S227105)
 27.7km SW 222° Comeraghglin SW* Stone Circle (S226104)
 28.2km SSE 153° Gaulstown Portal Dolmen* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 29.1km E 98° Glencloghlea* Portal Tomb (S698273)
 29.4km ENE 73° Brandon Hill Stone Circle (S690400)
 29.5km SSE 163° Ballinageeragh* Portal Tomb
 29.8km SSE 147° Knockeen Portal Tomb* Portal Tomb (S575065)
 30.2km S 188° Drumlohan* Standing Stone (Menhir) (S367013)
 30.8km SSE 158° Matthewstown* Passage Grave (S528028)
 32.1km ESE 111° Whitechurch Standing Stone Standing Stone (Menhir)
 32.4km ESE 113° Whitechurch Stone Circle (S710190)
View more nearby sites and additional images

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"Knockroe" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
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Re: Knockroe Alignments at Winter Solstice Sunrise and Sunset by GaelicLaird on Saturday, 18 December 2021
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An interesting interview here with Professor Muiris O’Sullivan who excavated Knockroe passage tomb which is aligned to both sunrise and sunset on the solstice.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/70I1oIekTpwYpsl0yslyu8?si=IJKGWIbySvuAKQUP1IZl6g&utm_source=copy-link


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Re: Knockroe Alignments at Winter Solstice Sunrise and Sunset by drolaf on Monday, 07 May 2018
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what a great site indeed. there's a chapter for it in 'visualising the neolithic' which is available free online (respect the copyright) and which shows the carvings.


https://orca.cf.ac.uk/51286/1/Composing%20the%20Neolithic%20at%20Knockroe%202012.pdf


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Rock art identified April 2018 by Andy B on Monday, 07 May 2018
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Nearby:
National Monuments Service:
Class Passage tomb art
Townland KNOCKROE (Kells By., Killamery ED)
SMR No. KK034-019003-
Description In a laneway 25m NE of Knockroe passage tomb (KK034-019001-), propped up against a drystone wall. Identified and recorded by Aoibheann Lambe (25 April 2018). An irregularly shaped pentagonal upright boulder, its long axis running N-S. It is concave on the W face (H 1m; max. Wth 1m). The upper face of the S side curves inwards; the top side (0.5m), part of which is broken away, and the base (0.7m) are both arching slightly upwards. The E face is obscured from view by the wall against which it leans. The W face is heavily spalled, chevrons (sides c. 0.1m) and diamond shapes are barely traceable. Cupmarks (max. diam. 0.03m) are dispersed over the surface, most clearly visible at the top left and bottom right of the W face. The most clearly defined motif on the W face is a centrally located diamond-shaped ring in positive relief (L c. 0.16m), located c. 0.5m in from the N side and 0.25m above the base with two more diamond-shaped rings immediately S of this motif. Chevrons running N-S across the face above these rings. Other diamond shapes and chevrons on the W face are faint. The boulder’s edge between its N and W faces is punctuated by at least five evenly spaced hollows (Diam. 0.03m). The N-facing side (L c. 1m; T c. 0.2m) is heavily inscribed with diamond rings, chevrons and cupmarks. No inscriptions were observed on the exposed part of the E face, the base or side of the S face. (Lambe 2018, unpublished report). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 2 May 2018
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Re: Knockroe Alignments at Winter Solstice Sunrise and Sunset by Andy B on Monday, 07 May 2018
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National Monuments Service:
Class Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
Townland KNOCKROE (Kells By., Killamery ED)
SMR No. KK034-019001-
Description National Monument No. 655. On a gentle W facing slope, 120m E of the Lingaun River, surrounded by pasture. There are very good views of hills to the SE-S-SW and of Slievenamon to the W, with Baunfree passage tomb (KK034-031----) on Kilmacoliver Hill being visible 3.6km to the SSE and the cairn (TS078-001----) on Slivevenamon being visible 11km to the WSW. The monument is described by Carrigan (1905, vol. 4, 324-5), who mentions a lane cutting across the centre of the ‘Coshel’. It is described by Ó Nualláin and Cody (1987, vol. 117, 71-4) as a roughly circular, though quite overgrown, mound (diam. 27m; H 0.7-1m), defined by kerbstones, with two passages, one in the SW (L 3.5m; Wth at entrance 0.2m widening to 1m at rear), consisting of 12 orthostats, and the other smaller passage in the SE. Decoration on some of the kerbstones and on the orthostats of the SW tomb was noted (ibid., 71). Between 1990 and 1995 four seasons of archaeological excavation (Licence No. E000554) were carried out (O'Sullivan 1991, 40; 1992, 31; 1993, vol. 123, 5-18; 1995, 49-50; 1996, 51). It was found that the cairn was constructed on top of a raised earthen platform, which was created by scarping the slope (O’Sullivan 1993, vol. 117, 9). The cairn material was composed of three layers, the lower consisting of boulders (avg. diam. 0.3-0.4m) embedded in a dark reddish-purple soil which was overlaid by a layer of smaller stones (O’Sullivan 2011, No. 53). Over this lies a top layer of small stones which appear to be the result of relatively modern field clearance activity (ibid.). The SW tomb, which has a curving entrance façade, is larger and more elaborate than the SE tomb, having sophisticated decoration on many of its orthostats, as well as being aligned with the setting sun of the mid-Winter solstice (ibid.). The SE tomb was fully revealed during the excavations and it became evident that, unlike the SW tomb, this cruciform tomb (L 2.9m; Wth 2.2m) never had a passage extending to the edge of the kerbing of the mound (O’Sullivan 1993, vol. 117, 9). Also, only two of the orthostats of the SE tomb are decorated (ibid.). During the excavations considerable quantities of cremated bone were recovered from both tombs, though especially the SW tomb, as well as bone and antler pins, beads and pendants (ibid.). The lower part of a Carrowkeel Bowl and sherds of other Neolithic vessels were recovered from the SE tomb (ibid.). Fragments of Beaker pottery were recovered between the SE tomb and the kerbstones and a Food Vessel was found in the SW tomb (ibid.). The passage tomb art on the orthostats and kerbstones is described in detail by O’Sullivan (1987, vol. 117, 84-95). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 17 November 2017
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Knockroe Alignments at Winter Solstice Sunrise and Sunset by Runemage on Friday, 04 May 2018
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Solstice - When the Sun Stands Still - Full Film by Pete MacGowan Filmed At Knockroe, County Kilkenny, Ireland during the Winter Solstice and Solstice Eve, 2016, (December 20th and 21st), by Pete Smith. Additional footage filmed on December 18th and 19th 2016.
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