Dowth

Welcome to Dowth, or 'Dubad' in the ancient tongue, meaning darkness. As you stand here in the Boyne Valley, less than an hour north of the bustling streets of Dublin, you are entering a landscape that was sacred long before the…

As we walk along the base of the mound, your eyes should be drawn downward to the massive curbstones that ring the entire structure. There are over a hundred of these stones, though many remain buried or hidden by the encroaching…

Look toward the top of the mound, and you will notice a large, jagged crater. This is not the result of natural erosion or ancient collapse, but rather a chilling example of nineteenth-century 'archaeology' gone wrong. …

Move around to the south-western side of the mound. Here lies the entrance to the South Passage, a feature that aligns Dowth with the heavens. …

On the northern side of the mound, we find a second, separate passage. This is quite unusual; most passage tombs have only one entrance. …

Carefully make your way toward the top of the mound, avoiding the steep drops of the crater. From this vantage point, you can truly appreciate why the Neolithic people chose this specific spot. …

As we descend back toward the field, let’s consider the possibility that Dowth was never truly finished. Some archaeologists suggest that the sheer variety of styles and the unusual double passages indicate several phases of…

As our journey at Dowth concludes, take one last look at the massive green mound rising against the Irish sky. You have walked across a site that has seen the rise and fall of empires, the arrival of Christianity, the violence of…