Newgrange (24th July 2007)
We went to the Boinne Visitor Centre to go on a guided tour to the Passage Tomb at Newgrange. This is a Megalithic Passage Tomb that was built about 3200 BC. The kidney shaped mound covers an area of over one acre and is surrounded 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 only pity was that we were not allowed to take any photos of the inside of the tomb since it is consiered as sacred.
The most interesting thing that happens in this tomb is that the passage and chamber of Newgrange are illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise. A shaft of sunlight shines through the roof box over the entrance and penetrates the passage to light up the chamber. The dramatic event lasts for 17 minutes at dawn from the 19th to the 23rd of December.
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