Newgrange; It is a prehistoric monument located on the north side of Ireland’s River Boyne, about eight kilometers west of Drogheda. Built in the Neolithic Age around 3200 BC, Newgrange is older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. As a result of the excavations carried out in the structure that was discovered 300 years ago, it was understood that it was a tomb. Newgrange illustrates an astronomical phenomenon during the winter solstice. Therefore, visitors can visit Newgrange during the winter solstice to observe the light that gradually fills the room. Due to the features of the building, some people in Ireland believe that it was built by elves and fairies.
monumental building; It consists of a large circular mound of rooms and a passage paved with stones. Human bones, burial remains or votive offerings were found in these chambers. There is also a stone circle around the mound. The purpose of use of the building is not known exactly, but it is generally thought that it was used for religious purposes. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993, Newgrange has been renamed “Brú na Bóinne – Bend of Boyne Archaeological Community” since 2013.
Features of the Newgrange Memorial Building
Archaeologists have classified Newgrange as a passage tomb, but today Newgrange is considered much more than a passage tomb. The structure is covered with a dome, which is considered a marvel of engineering. One-piece stones, heavy on the bottom and light on the top, are stacked on top of each other, with each top stone being placed a little more protruding. Thus, a 6-meter-high hexagonal chimney was formed at the top of the structure. There is a cover stone at the end of the chimney that can be opened and closed when desired.
Built around 5,200 years ago (3200 BC), Newgrange’s name is less heard than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza, but it is an older structure. Newgrange; It is in the form of a mound with a diameter of 85 meters, a height of 13 meters and spread over an area of approximately 1 acre. A 19-meter-long passage opens into a 3-cavity room. Newgrange is surrounded by 97 large stones called curbstones, some of which are carved with megalithic art; The most striking one is the entrance stone.
Resembling an ancient temple, Newgrange is more appropriately a place of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial significance. It is a building similar to modern cathedrals, prestigious and respectable spaces where dignitaries can rest. Newgrange stands out as a kidney-shaped mound. The corridor inside opens into a cruciform room with a corbelled ceiling, and the amount of time and effort put into Newgrange’s development demonstrates a well-organized society with specialized groups responsible for various parts of the building. Newgrange is part of the Brú na Bóinne group of monuments erected around a bend of the Boyne River. The largest is Knowth and the other is Dowth, but there are more than 35 other smaller mounds in the area.
The Winter Solstice Event in Newgrange
Newgrange; It is famous for the fact that its sun illuminates the corridor and room, which is experienced at the winter solstice. A roof box in Newgrange lets sunlight into the room on the shortest days of the year, on December 21, the winter solstice. As the sun rises in the sky, the beam inside the room expands and significantly illuminates the entire space. This event lasts 17 minutes and starts at 9 am. Shortly after sunrise, sunlight falls directly on the burial chamber. After that, it progresses, reflecting on various corridor doors and giant stones, and finally reaches the back wall. Meanwhile, it creates a perfect light beam. Another interesting issue is that all the blocks placed are at an angle where the light can touch and reflect.
Newgrange; It is thought of as a time display device. This feature of the structure, which was built 500 years before the Great Pyramids and almost 1000 years before Stonehenge, is quite surprising. It is thought that the intention of the Stone Age farmers who built Newgrange may have been to mark the beginning of the new year, although it is not known for certain. It can also be thought of as serving as a powerful symbol of life’s victory over death. Every year, the winter solstice celebration in Newgrange is quite popular. Many people gather near the ancient tomb to wait for the dawn, just as it was done 5,000 years ago. The demand to be one of the few in the room during the solstice is so great that even an annual raffle is held.
It is not known who built this structure and how it was built, but it remains certain that those who built it were not primitive people. The building is a beautiful testament to the skill and wit of the ancient architects and builders. There is no writing or painting inside the structure, but there are signature triple spiral carvings.
