Fourknocks Passage Tomb, Co. Meath.

Although this passage tomb is quite small on the outside, the chamber inside is the largest in Ireland. It was excavated and reconstructed in the 1950's when a roof was added.

The photo shows the front exterior of the passage tomb, steps have been placed up to the summit of the artificial roof which offers amazing views from the Dublin mountains to the south, to the Cooley mountains in the north.

The remains of 65 individuals were found in the passageway and side chambers along with fragments of pottery and beads.

Click on any of the photos on this page to enlarge.

Inside the chamber, the three recesses are lit by the natural light from three holes in the roof, this is not an original feature, the roof was added after the excavations.

A closer look at the three recesses.

The whole chamber illuminated by flash, the modern domed roof is now visible. The roof does not rest directly on the walling of the chamber, instead it sits well back on the reconstructed cairn.

The right hand recess lit with natural light.

This lintel stone probably once sat over the passageway, now it sits to the right at the end of the passage, with a hole in the roof lighting it very nicely.

The left hand recess lit by natual light and fill flash.

The rear central recess lit by natural light and torch light.

The famous neolithic 'smilie' face carved on one of the stones set into the chamber walls. The diamond at the top left of the stone is supposely the left eye, the long curved lines across the whole face of the stone make the mouth. The rest should be easy to see from there!

The lintel lit by torch light.