May 20-30, 2011 Tour of Newgrange, Ireland

1. Newgrange
Newgrange is a prehistoric monument, dating to 3000 BC, located in County Meath,
on the eastern side of Ireland, about one kilometre north of the River Boyne. It is
aligned with the rising sun on the winter solstice, which floods the stone room with
light (if it isn’t a cloudy day!)
After its initial use, the entrance to Newgrange was sealed and it remained blocked and
unknown, except as a mound, for several millennia. It first began to be studied as a
prehistoric monument in the 17th century. Various excavations took place at the site
before it was largely restored to an interpretation of its original Neolithic appearance
by conservators in the 1970s.

2. The approach to the Newgrange mound. The white stones in the walls are quartz from more than
30 miles away.

3. Outside the entrance to the Newgrange tomb

4. The mound has base stones and clever ledges to support the weight of the mound.

5. A nearby prehistoric structure

6. Prehistoric stone carvings, spirals and diamonds

7. A woven wicker bench and wattle walls. Wish I had a garden like this!