After all the great things we have seen on this trip to Ireland, it is fitting that our last stop on our way back to Dublin was one of the most extraordinary sights of the trip: Newgrange.
The origin of Newgrange is a mystery. It is one of the most important passage tombs in Europe, and dates back to 3200 BC. that makes it 1000 years older than Stonehenge, and 500 years older than the Pyramids.
Apparently Newgrange was built by one of the first farming communities in what is now Ireland. The societies prior to the people of Newgrange were hunters and gathers, but these people were farmers. The accumulation, and storage of extra food, that farmers enjoyed, gave them the time and resources to build structures like Newgrange.
The structure itself is over three hundred feet in diameter. The passage and the tomb is 82 feet from entrance to the back of the tomb, and the passage and tomb are decorated with zigzags, spirals and other geometric art, and what’s most amazing, the capstone that was placed on the top over 5000 years ago has kept the tomb completely dry.
Over 200,000 tons of loose stones were brought in by the people to build the mound and the grave. This was all done by a society that had neither wheels or metal tools. they were a stone age community.
There are many other passage tombs in this area. Three, that have been discovered, and similar size to Newgrange, and there are hundreds more smaller tombs all located through this farming community.
The people left the area suddenly, and no one knows why, so the tomb fell into disrepair, and disappeared from sight. About 2200 BC a bronze age civilization selected the same spot for their temple, and built a stone circle around the top of the hill and apparently did not know the older tomb existed.
The tomb was discovered in 1699, but not excavated until 1960. They used the stones on site to rebuild the tomb as it was 5000 years ago.
The river Boyne that runs near Newgrange
Newgrange tomb
View from the entrance to the tomb, note the small burial mound the field
Entrance to the tomb
Artwork at Newgrange
It’s hard to imagine how dark it is in the tomb. Your allowed to go in with a guide, and while there, they turn out the lights. Now matter how hard you try, you can see nothing.
The tomb is aligned so each year at the start of the winter Solstice, the sun shines in the tomb entrance and floods the chamber with light. This actually happens the first five days of the Solstice, and they have a drawing each year for 100 people ( 20 each of the five days) to enter the tomb and experience the winter Solstice light.
Sandi and I are signed up, and will go back to Ireland in December if we are lucky enough to have our names drawn.
