Knowth Books
Knowth stands as a remarkable testament to Ireland’s Neolithic builders, boasting the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe and a rich history spanning thousands of years. These carefully selected books provide expert insights into Knowth’s archaeology, ancient passage tombs, and its role in Irish mythology. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, archaeology student, or traveller eager to explore Ireland’s prehistoric heritage, these books offer an essential resource for uncovering the mysteries of this Boyne Valley treasure.
Knowth, a guide book published by the Royal Irish Academy based on material from the archaeological excavations published in their
seven-volume Excavations at Knowth series, offers a general overview of what Knowth is all about, outlining why it is of interest and importance. In part, it is
intended as a guide that people can use to navigate their way around the site, but it is also a book that anyone can read, use and enjoy without being on site and
still get a feel for Knowth and how it came to be what it is. Purchase at Amazon.com
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Knowth and Brú na Bóinne from the Irish Built Heritage Series by Paul Francis is a clear and accessible introduction rather than an academic study. Aimed at general readers and visitors, it places strong emphasis on illustrations and visual explanation, making it easy to understand the site and its wider context within the Boyne Valley. Purchase at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
Knowth and the passage-tombs of Ireland by George Eogan. First published in 1986 by the archaeologist who directed excavations at Knowth,
a huge central mound with a cluster of smaller sites around it. Knowth yielded more than a quarter of the engraved art from the whole of Neolithic Europe. While aimed
at a general readership, the book is also a good starting point for academic research.
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Excavation of an Early Medieval Secular Cemetery at Knowth Site M by Geraldine Stout and Matthew Stout.
Excavations revealed three main phases of activity: linear trenches and a cluster of irregularly shaped pits, a cemetery enclosed by two subcircular
ditches of 6th to 10th century date, and a later external earthwork constructed in the early medieval period. Evidence for agricultural and manufacturing
activity within the enclosures was also identified. Large quantities of unstratified prehistoric lithics were recovered.
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Excavations at Knowth Series
Vol.1 - Excavations at Knowth.
Vol.2 - Excavations at Knowth.
Vol.3 - Knowth and the Zooarchaeology of Early Christian Ireland.
Vol.4 - Historical Knowth and Its Hinterland.
Vol.5 - The archaeology of Knowth in the first and second millennia AD.
Vol.6 - The achievements of the tomb builders who constructed the Great Mound.
Vol.7 - The Megalithic Art of the Passage Tombs at Knowth, Co. Meath.
Newgrange and the Bend of the Boyne by Geraldine Stout. This wonderful 236 page historical
geography of the Boyne Valley covers 7000 years, from prehistory to the twentieth century. The megalithic mounds at Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth are extensively covered.
The Boyne Valley is where the great prehistoric tomb-building tradition of Atlantic Europe reached its zenith. It is where legend says the foundations of Irish Christianity
were laid and is also the home of Ireland’s first medieval Cistercian monastery at Mellifont.
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Knowth, home to the largest passage tomb in the Boyne Valley, holds invaluable clues to Ireland’s Neolithic past. From its intricate megalithic art to groundbreaking archaeological discoveries, this ancient site continues to captivate historians, researchers, and travellers alike. Whether you're interested in passage tomb architecture, prehistoric astronomy, or the mythology surrounding Knowth, our book collection offers expert insights into one of Ireland’s most significant megalithic monuments.
