Newgrange is a Neolithic Passage Tomb that is approximately 5,000 years old. That makes it older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Egypt!
As we approached the tomb, it appeared to be a pronounced grass-covered hill surrounded by large rocks. Our tour guide led us to the tomb entrance and gave us a little background information about what we were looking at. She admitted that very little was known about the people who built this tomb, except that they were most likely farmers who had settled in the area. Much of the stone was found locally, except for the large stones (called kerbstones). They suspect that they were brought in by raft via the local river, and hauled up the hill to be put in place.
Newgrange lay hidden until it was discovered in 1699 by a local resident looking for some stone. However, it wasn't officially excavated until the 1960s, which meant that the tomb lay open for people to take pieces from it for many years. Some graffiti from Victorian times can even be found within the tomb.What is so remarkable about this tomb, is that it was designed in such a way that on the five days surrounding the winter solstice, at sunrise the sun will shine right through the window above the entrance and eventually flood the whole tomb with light. When they excavated the tomb, they found evidence of human remains. This led them to suspect that the people who built the tomb designed it this way so that as the sun beam retracted, it took with it the spirits of the deceased. While inside the tomb with our tour guide, she used a light to try and re-create what it looks like on the winter solstice. It wasn't a very strong light beam, but it helped us to appreciate the design.
If you're interested in learning more, I've included this YouTube video about it (it's less than 4 minutes long):
Nowadays, they hold a lottery to decide who gets to be in the tomb during sunrise on the solstice mornings.
During our time in the tomb, we also were able to appreciate its construction. In the picture here, you can see what the ceiling looked like.
Remember that these were Stone-Age people who built it, so... no tools, nothing to adhere these large stones to each other. They were just stacked upon each other until it was topped with the capstone, and they stuck some small stones in the gaps. This construction has lasted for 5,000 years, it has never collapsed, and has never even let a drip of water into the tomb! Amazing!
In the pictures above, you can see the designs that were carved into some of the kerbstones. There are many theories about what the symbols mean on each of the stones, but no one really knows what they mean.After we left Newgrange, we took a shuttle to another landmark not even a mile away called Knowth. Knowth is another passage tomb (there were a handful in the local area), encircled by 17 other satellite tombs.
Unlike Newgrange which was left untouched for so long, there was much evidence found at Knowth to suggest that there were inhabitants on this mound throughout much of history. 
The passage tomb has many similarities in design to Newgrange, but one main difference is that Knowth was designed to recognize the equinox. A sandstone pillar was placed in front of the entrance to the tomb and would cast a shadow on the 2 equinox days each year.
What I found so fascinating during our visit was the designs carved into so many of the kerbstones. I was humbled thinking about how much time it must have taken for these Stone-Age people to carve these designs, and it of course left me wondering what they were trying to say through these symbols.
We returned to Dublin that afternoon, and don't be mad, but we didn't get back in time to see the Guiness Storehouse tour as we had planned. I pacified Ethan with dinner at a local brew-pub called Porterhouse, and we all enjoyed some yummy Irish burgers while Ethan really enjoyed tasting a few different ales. We strolled around the city a little more, bought a few souveniers, and walked to see the River Liffey.
It had been another full day!
1 comment:
You visit the most AMAZING places!
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