Newgrange
Sí an Bhrú
Ireland · Meath
In brief
The passage tomb in the Brú na Bóinne complex was extensively excavated between 1962–1975. Finds from the tomb and its surroundings document Neolithic funerary practices and megalithic art.
What was found?
- 1Cremated human remains
Cremated human remains were deposited in stone basins in the side recesses of the burial chamber. These finds show that the monument was used as a tomb housing the remains of the dead.
- 2Spiral-decorated entrance stone
The large stone at the entrance is decorated with spirals and interconnected curves. It documents the prominent use of Neolithic stone decoration at the monument's entrance.
- 3Roof opening and its decorated lintel
The opening above the entrance directs the light of the rising sun into the burial chamber around the winter solstice. The lintel on the front of the opening is also decorated with carved motifs.
- 4Stone and bone ornaments
Stone and bone pendants and perforated stone beads were found in the burial chamber. These document the objects deposited in the monument alongside human remains.
What does it point to?
Newgrange brings together the remains of the dead, stone decoration, and architecture arranged according to sunlight. According to researchers, this combination suggests that the tomb was also important for ceremonies and collective gatherings; the details of the ceremonies and the meanings of the symbols are not known with certainty.
What did it teach us?
- It showed that Neolithic builders could incorporate the sun's seasonal position into architectural design.
- It documented the deposition of cremated human remains in stone basins within the burial chamber.
- It revealed that megalithic decorations were carved into architectural elements such as the entrance stone and the light opening.
Images
Latest news / selected archive
2020: Ancient DNA from a man in the burial chamber revealed that his parents were first-degree relatives.
Record
- Culture
- Irish Neolithic passage tomb tradition
- Team / historical
- Michael J. O'Kelly; University College Cork
- Coordinates
- 53.6947°, -6.4756°
Sources
- whc.unesco.org
- heritageireland.ie
- heritagecouncil.ie
- pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- en.wikipedia.org
- World Heritage Ireland — Brú na Bóinne eğitim kaynağı
- World Heritage Ireland — Newgrange kış gündönümü araştırması
Nearby excavations
- Dún Ailinne Ceremonial Site 67 km
- Vindolanda 303 km
- Star Carr 400 km
- Avebury 401 km
- Stonehenge 421 km
- Durrington Walls Settlement and Ceremonial Site 422 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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