Brú na Bóinne, which means the ‘palace’ or the ‘mansion’ of the Boyne, refers to the area within the bend of the River Boyne which contains one of the world’s most important prehistoric landscapes. Brú na Bóinne is dominated by the three well-known large passage tombs- Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth, built some 5000 years ago in the Neolithic or late Stone Age.
Newgrange Monument
Newgrange Passage Tomb is 5,200 years old. It is found in the Boyne Valley in Ireland’s Ancient East. Newgrange was built by ancient Stone Age farmers. The mound is 85 meters in diameter and 13,5 meters high. A passage measuring 19 meters leads into a chamber with 3 alcoves.
Newgrange is surrounded by 97 kerbstones and the most beautiful is the entrance stone. It has pretty, ancient designs on the front of it. The entrance to Newgrange was discovered in 1699 by a farmer removing stones for road building. In 1967, the Winter Solstice celebration was re-discovered by a professor named Michael J.O’Kelly. Newgrange is best known for the lighting up of it’s passage and chamber in the Winter Solstice. At dawn from December 19th-23rd, a narrow beam of light shines through the roof box, lighting up the passage and chamber.
Ciara Cronin & , 5th class
Newgrange Passage Tomb is 5,200 years old. It is found in the Boyne Valley in Ireland’s Ancient East. Newgrange was built by ancient Stone Age farmers. The mound is 85 meters in diameter and 13,5 meters high. A passage measuring 19 meters leads into a chamber with 3 alcoves.
Newgrange is surrounded by 97 kerbstones and the most beautiful is the entrance stone. It has pretty, ancient designs on the front of it. The entrance to Newgrange was discovered in 1699 by a farmer removing stones for road building. In 1967, the Winter Solstice celebration was re-discovered by a professor named Michael J.O’Kelly. Newgrange is best known for the lighting up of it’s passage and chamber in the Winter Solstice. At dawn from December 19th-23rd, a narrow beam of light shines through the roof box, lighting up the passage and chamber.
Ciara Cronin & , 5th class
Knowth Tomb
Knowth was built by the Neolithic people over 5000 years ago. It was built after Newgrange and before Dowth. It can be seen at Newgrange and alongside the Boyne River/ George Eogan and his team of archaeologists began excavating Knowth in 1962. Five years later they discovered the first passage and chamber.
The Great Mound at Knowth is a similar size to Newgrange and the mound has 18 smaller mounds surrounding it. The Great Mound has two passages with entrances on opposite sides. The western passage is 34 meters long and the eastern passage is 40 meters long, ending with a cruciform chamber.
Knowth and the other megalithic sites in the Boyne Valley were given a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in 1993.
Ewan McGrath & , 5th class.
Knowth was built by the Neolithic people over 5000 years ago. It was built after Newgrange and before Dowth. It can be seen at Newgrange and alongside the Boyne River/ George Eogan and his team of archaeologists began excavating Knowth in 1962. Five years later they discovered the first passage and chamber.
The Great Mound at Knowth is a similar size to Newgrange and the mound has 18 smaller mounds surrounding it. The Great Mound has two passages with entrances on opposite sides. The western passage is 34 meters long and the eastern passage is 40 meters long, ending with a cruciform chamber.
Knowth and the other megalithic sites in the Boyne Valley were given a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in 1993.
Ewan McGrath & , 5th class.
Dowth Passage Tomb
The Dowth passage tomb is around the same size as the most popular tombs of Newgrange and Knowth and was built around 5000 years ago. The mound was excavated by unqualified archaeologists in 1874. Two passage tombs were discovered but the mound was terrible damaged while this was happening. The Dowth North passage is 14 metres long. The chamber is a cruciform shape with an annex off the right hand recess, the chamber roof is 3 metres high. The Dowth South passage is only 3.5 metres in length with a simple circular chamber and a single recess to the right; the original roof collapsed long ago and has been replaced by a concrete roof. Dowth is not on the official tour from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.
Cian O’Reilly & , 5th class.
The Dowth passage tomb is around the same size as the most popular tombs of Newgrange and Knowth and was built around 5000 years ago. The mound was excavated by unqualified archaeologists in 1874. Two passage tombs were discovered but the mound was terrible damaged while this was happening. The Dowth North passage is 14 metres long. The chamber is a cruciform shape with an annex off the right hand recess, the chamber roof is 3 metres high. The Dowth South passage is only 3.5 metres in length with a simple circular chamber and a single recess to the right; the original roof collapsed long ago and has been replaced by a concrete roof. Dowth is not on the official tour from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.
Cian O’Reilly & , 5th class.