Knockmany Passage Tomb, Augher, United Kingdom

Knockmany passage tomb, or Anya's Cove, is an ancient burial monument on the summit of Knockmany Hill, near the village of Augher in Northern Ireland. It is the remains of a Neolithic passage tomb and its stones are decorated with rare megalithic art. They are protected by a concrete chamber and mound, built in 1959 by the Department of the Environment, roughly resembling the mound that would have originally covered it. The stones can be viewed through the entrance gates. It is a monument in state care.

The monument is a passage tomb built during the Neolithic, about 3000 BC. The chamber was originally covered with a stone cairn and earth. The orthostats remain: these are of height 0.91–2.13 m, and three of them show carved decorations including concentric circles, spirals and zigzags. They are similar to the decorated stones of the tombs at Loughcrew and Newgrange.

Knockmany comes from Irish Cnoc mBáine 'Báine's hill'. Báine (meaning 'whiteness') was a supernatural being, probably a goddess, who became conflated with the more famous goddess Áine. According to legend, Queen Báine was wife of the 1st-century King Túathal Techtmar and was buried here, in the tomb of the earlier Queen Áine.

References:

Wikipedia

Cemeteries, mausoleums and burial places in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Deividas Kevisas (3 months ago)
Absolutely great place for hiking. And super good for couples as this place just makes you complete the same goal and bring you together

Zara Wright (5 months ago)
lovely views, especially in Autumn...

G MacUait (9 months ago)
A walk to the top of the hill is great exercise, and the views are worth the effort. Lovely place, any time of the year!

Daniel Mag Uiginn (9 months ago)
Tough walk up to the summit but with views like that it's definitely worth it ? disappointed to see the passage tomb locked up and in a bit of disrepair. Great facilities at site for parking and toilets

Daniel McGuigan (9 months ago)
Tough walk up to the summit but with views like that it's definitely worth it ? disappointed to see the passage tomb locked up and in a bit of disrepair. Great facilities at site for parking and toilets

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The site was discovered in 1954 in a field owned by the Segni family. No chambers or entrances to the mound have been found, leading to the presumption it was an altar, a temple or a step pyramid. It may have also served an observational function, as its square plan is coordinated with the cardinal points of the compass.

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The site appears to have been abandoned again around 1800 BC, at the onset of the Nuragic age.

The monument was partially reconstructed during the 1980s. It is open to the public and accessible by the old route of SS131 highway, near the hamlet of Ottava. It is 14,9 km from Sassari and 45 km from Alghero. There is no public transportation to the site. The opening times vary throughout the year.

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