Newgrange

Newgrange was built around 3200 BC by a pre-Celtic culture, older than the pyramids in Egypt, and older than Stonehenge. It is a Neolithic (New Stone Age) passage grave. The passage and chamber were accidentally found in 1699 by road builders. The burial mound is over twelve metres in height, and eighty eight metres in diameter, and the passage way goes eighteen metres into a central burial chamber. Newgrange was a select burial site, and probably has four kings or druids buried there. For over five thousand years the roof of the chamber has remained water-tight, which is amazing considering the Irish climate.

The Roof Box is the most amazing factor of New Grange's features, this is due to its amazing technology. It is so precisely aligned to catch the first rays of the rising sun on the morning of the winter solstice (Dec 21), the shortest day of the year, which when it does this, the light passes through the Roof Box, down through the passage way, and lights up the central chamber, lasting for about twenty minutes. After this the light fades away and it is dark once more for the dead to 'Rest In Peace', until the same time next year, when the event takes place again. This annual illumination may have been symbolic to this ancient civilisation, or so it is suggested, representing the re-incarnation of the souls resting there or a sign of hope at the beginning of the new year. There are also large stones scattered around the base of New Grange with spirals and triangles which Archaeologists also think may represent re-incarnation. The white quartz that is in New Grange would have had to be hauled all the way from the Wicklow Mountains, which would also suggest that someone important is buried in there.

It also plays a part in Celtic mythology. It is said that Aengus, the god of love, and Tuatha De Danann , a supernatural being, lived there, and also believed is that Cuchulainn was born here.