UNESCO monuments in Ireland-Knowth.


On the territory of the island of Ireland there are 3 places, which are included in the list of World Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. These are the “Giant’s Causeway” in the Northern Ireland and two monuments in the Republic of Ireland. There are Skelling Michael in County Kerry and Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth in County Meath.

Last Sunday we were lucky to visit Meath County and get acquainted with those wonderful monuments of the Neolithic age, which are hundred years older that the Pyramids of Giza. All the three above-mentioned monuments are situated at a distance of 1-2 kilometres from each other, and that is why, from Newgrange tourists are transferred directly to the places of visit by buses. Unfortunately, the Dowth complex is closed to the public now.


monument knowth in ireland

The first stop was the Neolithic complex Knowth. Despite the rather exact date of age of the Knowth complex, just like it must be said, the Newgrange, scientists do not have data about the purpose of the monuments. And it is no wonder. Just imagine the picture. On a huge natural hill there is a construction built from more than 100 massive, stone blocks, most of them weight not less than a tonne. The stone blocks are placed in a circle and the roof of the construction is presented in the form of a big hill. Not far from the main construction there are 18 smaller ones.

But he most interesting is inside. Through the whole inner part of the hill there runs a narrow and rather low passage made of large stone blocks, places according to the gate principle. Almost all blocks forming outer and inner walls have images resembling a writing unknown to us.


monument knowth in ireland

The question: what is it and what is its purpose? Some scientists believe that these are places of tomb burials. But it is not clear if it is tomb for a tribal leader or for mass grave. For mass grave there is not enough room and it is not comfortable to lead the way of death in such cramp of room. But for a tribe leader such grave is not in grade, he is not a Pharaoh though. Nevertheless, there was a historic period of such burials. It doesn’t seem to be a religious ceremonial place as there were no ritual items found.


the stone block with logs in knowth's museum

But let us leave our historical reflections behind and face the facts. The most important fact is the problem of the construction. Because, brace yourself, there have been no traces of stone blocks in the region! The nearest mountains with similar structure are at a distance of 70-80 kilometres, in County Wicklow. In the museum of the tourists centre there is exposed such stone block with logs laid under it in order to show possibility of its move.

It is hard to imagine, how much people could move this many toned block without roads across the hilled country of Ireland. And take into account, that the man of that time was faced to the fact of struggle for survival and spent almost all his time in search of food.

Then logically, we can suppose that people had some abilities unknown to us, or, they had such all-consuming purpose, or the constructions were not built by man. We shall talk about it in the next part of the story….