Verified53.6947° N · 6.4753° W · 61 m
Newgrange
Sí an Bhrú · Brú na Bóinne – Newgrange Passage Tomb
Neolithic·Irish Middle Neolithic (Boyne Valley)·🇮🇪 County Meath, Leinster, Ireland
About
About Newgrange
Grand passage tomb in the Bend of the Boyne with 85 m diameter cairn, decorated kerbstones and cruciform chamber. Famous for winter solstice sunrise illuminating chamber through roof-box. Core of Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Roof-box solstice engineering precision
- 02Meaning of triple-spiral megalithic art
Theories
- 01Solar cult and rebirth cosmology
- 02Elite lineage tomb
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3200 BCE
- Period
- Neolithic
- Culture
- Irish Middle Neolithic (Boyne Valley)
- Purpose
- Passage tomb, solar ceremony, status display
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 3200 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1248 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
53.6947° N · 6.4753° W · 61 m · 3 mapped features
Roof-box & Entrance
architectural featureSlit above entrance admitting solstice sun
53.6949° N · 6.4750° WKerbstone 52 (entrance stone)
decorated stoneElaborately carved entrance kerb
53.6947° N · 6.4755° WCruciform chamber
chamber19 m passage leading to chamber
53.6947° N · 6.4753° W
Gallery