Newgrange Passage Tomb
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Windsocker
N 53° 41.609 W 006° 28.568
29U E 666635 N 5952377
Built by Neolithic farming communities about 5000 years ago, the passage tombs have clear astronomical alignments such as the Winter Solstice Sunrise at Newgrange and the Equinox Sunrise at Loughcrew.
Waymark Code: WM5CXG
Location: Ireland
Date Posted: 12/20/2008
Views: 39
The Megalithic Passage Tombs of Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, Fourknocks, are located in the present day County of Meath on the east coast of Ireland. The Boyne Valley Mounds at Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth were built around 3200BC making them older than Stonehenge in England and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
Judging from the splendour and magnificence of Newgrange and Knowth it is likely that these temples of the ancestors were places of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance, much as present day cathedrals are places of worship where dignitaries may be laid to rest.
There is a lively debate about whether these wonderful megalithic structures were built primarily as burial tombs, sacred temples or astronomical observatories. While passage tomb is the traditional description for Newgrange and similar structures, chambered cairn or passage mound are the descriptions favoured by those who consider the passage tomb description too narrow.
The large stones surrounding and inside the Passage Tombs are decorated with Megalithic Art such as spirals, concentric circles, triangles, zigzags and images which have been interpreted as the sun, moon and the human face.
Knowth has two passages and is surrounded by seventeen satellite cairns. The site is open to the public; however there is no public access to the interior passages and chambers. Tours of Knowth also start at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.
Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, open in 1997, is designed to present the archaeological heritage of the Boyne Valley, which includes the megalithic passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth. The Centre is the starting point for all visits to both monuments, and contains extensive interpretative displays and viewing areas. All visitors wishing to visit Newgrange and Knowth must begin their visit at the Visitor Centre. There is no direct access to these monuments.
Type: Dolmen
Number: 1,000.00
Size:
Newgrange a été construite par des agriculteurs de l'âge de pierre, le monticule a 85 mètres de diamètre et 13,5 mètres de haut, soit une superficie d'environ 1 acre.
Source:
Newgrange est entourée de 97 grandes pierres appelées trottoirs, dont certaines sont gravées d'art mégalithique; le plus frappant est la pierre d'entrée. Newgrange est surtout connu pour l'illumination de son passage et de sa chambre par le soleil du solstice d'hiver .
Parking: Not Listed
Purpose: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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