Saturday, September 22, 2012

Saturday Snapshot and SOOC



These were taken at Newgrange in County Meath Ireland in 2007.


Since this makes reference to Stonehenge here is a link to my photos from there.

Newgrange was constructed over 5,000 years ago (about 3,200 B.C.), making it older than Stonehenge in England and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. Newgrange was built during the Neolithic or New Stone Age by a farming community that prospered on the rich lands of the Boyne Valley. Knowth and Dowth are similar mounds that together with Newgrange have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Archaeologists classified Newgrange as a passage tomb, however Newgrange is now recognised to be much more than a passage tomb. Ancient Temple is a more fitting classification, a place of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance, much as present day cathedrals are places of prestige and worship where dignitaries may be laid to rest.

Newgrange is a large kidney shaped mound covering an area of over one acre, retained at the base by 97 kerbstones, some of which are richly decorated with megalithic art. The 19 metre long inner passage leads to a cruciform chamber with a corbelled roof. The amount of time and labour invested in construction of Newgrange suggests a well-organized society with specialised groups responsible for different aspects of construction.

Newgrange is part of a complex of monuments built along a bend of the River Boyne known collectively as Brú na Bóinne. The other two principal monuments are Knowth (the largest) and Dowth, but throughout the region there are as many as 35 smaller mounds.










10 comments:

  1. Oh wow! That is so cool. Must have been fun to explore!

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  2. Absolutely imposing shots....and what a lot of captivating info.

    Thanks for sharing, and here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST

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  3. I love the designs on the stones - it is amazing to realize how old it all is!

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  4. What beautiful old architecture, and I love those vivid green fields.

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  5. I have never seen or heard of anything quite like that - like a stone mushroom growing out of the ground. :)

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  6. I wonder how much of our modern architecture will still be standing in 5000 years time!?

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  7. I've always wanted to go there. My grandparents used to live near Buncrana, on the Inishowen Peninsula, in County Donegal, and there's an old hill for nearby, the Grianan of Ailech, where you can sense the history ,,, My Snapshot is at http://goo.gl/W9O2Z

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  8. Amazing work on those stones, love the swirling designs ... lucky duck for touring Ireland! I'm green with envy!

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