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Knockroe Passage Tomb: Axes

Trajectories 3000BCE. Tap/Click pics for big ones.
Knockroe Passage Tomb has two passages. The axial images given here have been scaled and fitted to the horizon as surveyed from a position at the centre of the tomb and approximately axial to both passages.

East passage of Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. Axially SE from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. The eastern passage has been found to be earlier and has a defined side chamber. Its axis is not easy to determine due to trees in the foreground but enough horizon points were identified to make a good approximation possible.

This passage seems to be centred about a half-month south of the winter cross-quarters; i.e. after Samhain and before Imbolc. Lunar minor standstillsLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range are also fairly central and well marked by the basal step of a hill.

The western passage is larger and well decorated. It is also asymmetrical, with a bit of an alcove on the western side that widens the chamber without itself forming a formal side chamber.

SW passage of Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. W chamber of Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. The backstone has a good number of carvings on it but the western alcove has more.

Axially SW from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. Axially SW from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. The SW passage axis seems to be centred on the lunar minor standstill Lunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range.

However, the shape of the passage allows for a wide range of positions within the chamber.

Axially SW from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. Axially SW from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. Axially SW from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland.

To summarise, the western passage has been constructed in such a way that, despite its narrow entrance, it allows sunlight to enter the chamber for the entire period from Samhain to Winter Solstice and back again to Imbolc. It seems that the passage could be centred on lunar minor standstillLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range and would allow the light of mid-summer full moon sets to penetrate for the entire minor half of the lunar cycle, about nine years in total. Remember that the eastern passage also has lunar minor standstillLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range fairly centrally placed.

Popularly, the passages are aligned to Winter Solstice, rise and set. While the western passage does permit the solstitial sun to shine in, the eastern one clearly never did and will not ever. Perhaps then it would be more accurate to say that both passages were aligned to the minor standstills but were cleverly contrived to do much more than indicate a single event.

More about Knockroe Passage Tomb.

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