Knockroe Passage Tomb Explained

Knockroe Passage Tomb
Map Type:	Ireland
Map Size:	180px
Coordinates:	52.4317°N -7.3997°W
Gbgridref:	S 408 312

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Knockroe: Passage Tomb KK034-019001 . mega-what.com . 16 January 2020.
2. Web site: Kilkenny Castle and Grounds the most visited OPW site in Ireland last year . . kclr96fm.com . 15 July 2019 . 18 January 2020 .
3. Web site: Newgrange of the south-east? Knockroe Passage Tomb has its own claim to fame . Independent News & Media . independent.ie . 23 December 2016 . 18 January 2020 .
4. Web site: Knockroe Passage Tomb . Megalithic Ireland . megalithicireland.com . 16 January 2020.
5. Web site: Knockroe Passage Tomb . Discover Ireland . discoverireland.ie . 16 January 2020.
6. Web site: Knockroe Passage Tomb . South Kilkenny Historical Society . 16 January 2020 .