Knowth cemetery, Tomb 8:Located just 2m W of the great mound, Tomb 1C, and c. 12m NW of the entrance to the W tomb in that mound. The remains of a mound (diam. c. 13m; max. H 0.5m) of redeposited boulder clay covered with some shale is defined by a kerb of 12 surviving kerbstones N-E-S, with an indent at the entrance to the destroyed tomb at SE. The W part of its mound and kerb have been removed without trace. There is evidence of an undifferentiated passage tomb (L 6m plus; Wth c. 0.3-1.2m) opening at SE which was represented by the sockets of 11 orthostats, and some of the stones were present but displaced. Two kerbstones bear simple megalithic art, a light circle and a vague heart-shape. Further work in 1994 identified three orthostats from sockets at the outer edge of the passage (Eogan and Cleary 2017, 254-5). The mound is fully reconstructed. (Eogan 1974, 18-24, Site 8; 1984, 48-52, Site 8; 1986, 75)
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 10 July 2007
Revised: 16 September 2020
See the attached plans:
_1 from Knowth 6, Fig. 2:1
_2 from Knowth 1, Fig. 25Description Source: Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage