Newgrange: An Amazing Prehistoric Monument

almost 3 years ago

Last time we visited Kylemore Abbey on the western coast of Ireland

Today I am on the east cost and visiting Newgrange, a prehistoric monument in located on the eastern coast of Ireland. It is an exceptionally grand passage tomb built during the Neolithic Period, around 3200 BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids (although, personally, I think the pyramids might be older)! The remarkable feature of this site is that it is aligned with the winter solstice sunrise (which is characteristic shared with many prehistoric monuments actually, highlighting the importance of celestial alignments for the people of the time). Newgrange is the main monument in the "Brú na Bóinne complex", which also includes the passage tombs of Knowth and Dowth, as well as other henges, burial mounds and standing stones. So the whole site here seems to have been of significance. There are also many more prehistoric sites across Great Britain and Ireland which reveals a lot about the culture of the people, presumably the Celtics, at that time.

The mound itself is about 76 meters across and 12 meters in height:

Newgrange

The entrances which has some stones in front of it. The upper entrance is for the sunlight at solstice, the one at the bottom is for the people. It has a very low height which essentially means that you have to "bow" to get into the passageway. In other words, there is also a symbolic significance here!

entrance

The walls on the outside are not a new feature, although the whiteness as well as the fine details make it appear that they are of newer origin. You can also see some wider and bigger stones on the bottom which have some marks on them. I have seen a lot of swirls which is a symbol that many prehistoric stones have carved into. In the distance to the left you can see some more quite big stones (and smaller ones) which also belong to this site.

walls

walls2

outside

stone

It is estimated that its initial period of use lasted about 1,000 years. Newgrange then gradually became a ruin, although the area continued to be a site of ritual activity. It is also featured in Irish mythology and folklore, in which it is said to be a dwelling of the deities, particularly The Dagda and his son Aengus.

Inside we see the passageway which is very narrow and leads to the main chamber.

passageway

chamber

The ceiling is actually quite high and has a big stone on top of this chimney like construction.

ceiling

Here you can see a light ray from the solstice that enters the passageway as well as the chamber. The guide there told me that there is a long waiting list every year for being able to witness this event first hand as only few people can fit into the chamber.

light