Excavations at Knowth - Volume 3

Knowth and the Zooarchaeology of Early Christian Ireland by Finbar McCormick and Emily Murray with contributions by George Eogan, Sheila Hamilton-Dyer and Eileen Murphy.

This is the third volume of the comprehensive account of the excavations at Knowth - part of the ancient Brugh na Bóinne complex that also includes Dowth and Newgrange. This monograph provides the first comprehensive overview of the archaeological evidence for the use of animal resources in Ireland during the Early Christian period. The study of the bone assemblage from Knowth- one of the largest assemblages of animal bone recovered from an Irish site in recent decades - provided an opportunity to review the faunal data recorded from other Early Christian sites in Ireland. The volume contains a gazetteer summarising this data from more than 30 excavations across the country. The concluding premise of the analysis is that the animal bones demonstrate a fundamental shift in Irish livestock economy from the eighth century AD onwards.

Purchase at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

Keynotes:

This is the third in the Excavations at Knowth series of monographs.
It provides the first comprehensive overview of the archaeological evidence for the use of animal resources in Ireland during the Early Christian period.
Excavations of the Early Christian levels at Knowth produced one of the largest assemblages of animal bone recovered from an Irish site in recent decades.
The study of the bones provided an opportunity to review the faunal data recorded from contemporary Irish sites, and the volume contains a gazetteer summarising this evidence from more than 30 excavations across the country.
This volume also contains chapters dealing with Irish zooarchaeology from the Mesolithic to the Iron Age and an overview of the Early Christian archaeology at Knowth. The concluding premise of the analysis is that the animal bones demonstrate a fundamental shift in the Irish livestock economy from the eighth century onwards.

The Great Mound at Knowth

Boyne Valley Private Day Tour

Immerse yourself in the rich heritage and culture of the Boyne Valley with our full-day private tours. Visit Newgrange World Heritage site, explore the Hill of Slane, where Saint Patrick famously lit the Paschal fire. Discover the Hill of Tara, the ancient seat of power for the High Kings of Ireland. Book Now