Amazing Ancient Astronomy - Newgrange Passage Grave

As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, my family and I recently returned from Ireland. While we were there we visited several historical sites, but none were really as amazing as the Newgrange Passage Grave in Brú na Bóinne.

Constructed about 5,000 years ago, 500 years before the pyramids of Egypt, this massive tomb would have been the final resting place of some of the earliest settlers of eastern Ireland. The entrance to the tomb collapsed thousands of years ago, preserving it until it was unearthed in 1699. Recently, the entrance was reconstructed, using mostly the original stone, to what scholars believe to be its earliest state (minus the wooden stairs on either side of course).

While Newgrange has a long and storied history, what captivated me was the amazing astronomical significance of the site. The top image clearly shows the entry way to the tomb. But you will also notice a "window" above the opening.

As you enter the tomb (sorry no photography allowed inside the tomb, so I can't show you what it looks like inside) you begin to walk up a slight grade, though it is so slight that you hardly notice. Once you reach the center of the tomb you have actually climbed about two meters, during which time the window that start above your head is now at foot level.

During 360 days a year, in the absence of electricity the central area of the tomb is completely void of light, even during the day. But during the winter solstice, the shortest five days of the year, the dawn Sun will illuminate the tomb. The Sun, now directly aligned with the window funnels light into the central chamber. As the light bounces around the room fills up to the point where, as our tour guide said, the light appears to be oozing out from the walls.

What amazes me is their apparent knowledge of the seasons, and their ability to build such a structure to such exact specifications. And this all begs the question, to what purpose was this constructed? The sheer amount of effort and planning that went into this landmark is staggering, especially for a civilization 5,000 years ago. Was it a religious monument? Was it simply a way to track the seasons? We may never know.

Whatever the purpose, it all sounds pretty fantastic, huh? If you would like to visit the tomb during the winter solstice you can put your name into a lottery to be one of the lucky ones to experience this event. But, even if you can't be there at the solstice I wholeheartedly recommend visiting the tomb should you ever find yourself in the area. It truly is amazing.

Image Credits: Photographs, Melissa Millis; Sketch, William Frederick Wakeman