The Neolithic Tombs at Newgrange

12:48 AM; Dublin,

Yesterday was another overcast, raining, and cold day in Dublin. I didn't let the poor weather stop me from heading up to one of Ireland's heritage sites; about an hour north of Dublin. Here, you will find what looks like a small hill or mound of dirt with a rock wall around on side. Not exactly something spectacular but the story behind it is a little more interesting.

The tomb or cave that was built by these people in the Stone Age is perfectly aligned to allow the sun shine through the entrance on the winter Solstice. This is when the sun reaches its Southern most declination or the shortest day of the year for us in the Northern hemisphere. What is remarkable about the site is the genius put into its design. Without any modern technology or machinery they positioned stones larger than my truck with the up-most precision.

The engineering capabilities of these people is also interesting. The site was built out of rocks and dirt and the interior tomb has a ten meter stepped vault sealing with four meters of dirt on top of that. For over 4,000 years it never collapsed or so much as leaked water into the inner chamber. Quite remarkable.

However, in person you aren't readily impressed. The interior is just bigger than my dorm room and the entire mound is not bigger than my home. Still, you have to be a little impressed to be standing inside a man made structure that is older than the pyramids. A great way to spend a Saturday.

Unfortunately, I couldn't take pictures of the interior.


-jake