Newgrange

Welcome to Newgrange, perhaps the most iconic and evocative archaeological site in all of Ireland. Standing here, you are looking at a Passage Tomb that was built around 3,200 BC, making it even older than its neighbor Knowth and…

As you stand at the entrance to Newgrange, your eyes are immediately drawn to the massive stone lying horizontally before the threshold. This is the 'Entrance Stone,' and it is widely considered one of the finest examples of…

One of the most controversial yet striking aspects of Newgrange is its white quartz façade. When the tomb was excavated in the 1960s, archaeologists found thousands of pieces of white quartz scattered at the base of the mound. …

Now, your guide will lead you 'deep into the tomb down a narrow passageway'. As you enter, you will notice that the space is tight and the ceiling is low in places. …

At the end of the passage, the space opens up into a 'cross-shaped central chamber'. Standing here, look up at the roof. …

The most extraordinary feature of Newgrange is its alignment with the winter solstice. Above the main entrance is a small, rectangular opening known as the 'roof box'. …

Newgrange is surrounded by 97 large 'curb stones' that form a continuous ring around the base of the mound. Many of these stones are decorated with the same 'abstract art' found at the entrance and in the chamber. …

As we step back into the daylight and look one last time at the shimmering white facade of Newgrange, reflect on the 'sweep of history' you have just experienced. You have stood in a place that was ancient before the pyramids…