Brú na Bóinne, or “Boyne Valley tombs,” is considered to be one of the most important prehistoric landscapes in the world. It is located in Ireland, in a bend in the area of the River Boyne in County Meath. The site features a complex of Neolithic mounds, chamber tombs, standing stones, henges, and other prehistoric enclosures that date back 5,000 years. It is older than the Egyptian pyramids!
Site Functions
The site has monuments that were essential for social,
economic, religious, and funerary functions. It features three burial grounds
(see below) that are surrounded by
forty satellite passage graves. There have been 90 monuments discovered at
the site, some of which contain megalithic art.
The site includes the three Megalithic passage tombs of Knowth,
Dowth, and Newgrange. Newgrange and Dowth were specifically constructed for
solar alignments during the Winter solstice, while Knowth is aligned for the
spring and autumn Equinoxes.
Knowth is one and a half times
bigger than Newgrange and has two long internal passageways. It is circled
by 18 smaller satellite tombs. Dowth is known as the “Fairy Mound of Darkness”
and has been reclaimed by nature in comparison to the other sites.
The Great Stone Circle surrounding Newgrange consists of 12
surviving stones. Although they are irregularly placed, it is believed that
these 12 stones were placed to cast shadows on Newgrange’s decorated entrance
stone. It is said that these stones may have acted as a Neolithic
calendar.
Archaeological Excavations
Several archaeological digs have taken place over the years.
These digs have unearthed multiple artifacts as well as passageways in the
tombs. However, no major archaeological excavations have been done at Dowth. In July of 1967, Knowth’s western passage was
discovered during an archaeological excavation. Knowth’s eastern passage was
found in August 1968 in another excavation.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Brú na Bóinne was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
2013. The site today is celebrated for its ingenuity and art, but it was an
important economic, social, and religious center. It is the largest assemblage
of megalithic art in Europe. Today, visitors can access Newgrange and Knowth
from the visitor center by way of shuttle bus. Visitors are unable to go inside
of Dowth, but they can explore the outside of it.