Newgrange Tomb

Newgrange Tomb

Newgrange Tomb is located in County Meath in northeastern Ireland and is a passage tomb situated in the Bend of the Boyne river region. It is one of Ireland’s most famous prehistoric tombs and also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne.

Newgrange is believed to have been built around 3200 BCE during the Neolithic period by a community of farmers living in the Boyne Valley. The tomb’s passage is approximately 60 feet long and leads to a central chamber with three recesses, all supported by a corbelled roof. The mound covering the tomb weighs around 200,000 tonnes and is supported by a base of 97 large stones. As a typical Irish Neolithic passage tomb, the entrance to the right-hand recess is the largest and most elaborately decorated. Inside this recess are two stone basins, one fitted inside the other. The outer basin is considered a masterpiece of Neolithic craftsmanship, carved from a single block of solid granite. The other two recesses feature basins made of sandstone. Archaeologists believe these basins were once used to hold the remains of the dead.

A circle of 12 standing stones surrounds Newgrange, and there may have originally been more. Excavations of circular wooden structures suggest the stone circle was likely erected after 2000 BCE. The purpose of the stone circle is unclear, though some research suggests an astronomical function. Regardless, the stone circle was the final element added in the tomb’s construction. Many mysterious patterns are carved into these stones, including spirals, diamonds, triangles, parallel lines, and arcs. Interpretations of these carvings vary—some believe they represent constellations, while others think they depict local maps. Nevertheless, these stone engravings are among the finest examples of European prehistoric megalithic art.

Newgrange

Must-visit reason: One of Ireland’s most famous prehistoric tombs

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Ireland[Ireland]

Province/State where the attraction is located: County Meath [County Meath]