Ancient site holds an intriguing secret

AT FIRST glance it doesn’t look like much, and few of us would have ever heard of this place. But inside lies an incredible sight.

IT’S an ancient site that remains relatively unknown to many Australians, despite its fascinating history. And it turns out that the 5200-year-old Newgrange world heritage site also holds an incredible sight that few get to see.

The Stone Age megalith is located in the Boyne Valley in Ireland, and at first glance appears to be little more than a simple mound.

The 85m relic was built by a local farming community who had made a fortune in the rich lands of the Boyne Valley. It was first thought to be a passage tomb, but in more recent years it has become recognised to be much more than that.

Now, it’s more accurately classified as an ancient temple and is recognised as a place of spiritual and astrological importance, believed by some to be a portal between this world and another world.

It also hides a fascinating sight. Built to mark the new year, a passage inside stretches 19m and leads into a cruciform chamber with three alcoves. They are aligned with the rising sun.

Newgrange is a 5200-year-old ancient site. Picture: Guy Renard

It’s rare to be allowed inside during the winter solstice. Picture: Don Crowley

Above the opening of the passage lies a roof box — which was a huge surprise for those who later discovered it. The ancient device allows sunlight to enter the chamber on the shortest day of the year (around December 21), penetrating the box and then reaching the floor inside, until it hits all the way to the end and lights up the entire chamber.

The whole light show lasts just 17 minutes in total. Only a lucky few are allowed inside during this period, with demand so high that you have to apply to experience the unique moment through an annual lottery.

Remains inside. Picture: Guy Renard

The incredible monument. Picture: Tourism Ireland

It’s thought that the farmers who build Newgrange may have been among the earliest people to believe in a life after death.

“It could be said that Newgrange is as much a womb as a tomb,” author Anthony Murphy, who has been investigating the Boyne monuments for years, told the Irish Central.

“The cosmology of the monument is about death and birth and the cycles of the sun, moon and planets. On the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, the sun shines down the long passageway into the central chamber. At this moment, the old sun dies and the new sun is born.”

Indeed, there is death inside the mound, in the form of a single tomb. The remains of those who have passed are held in basin stones.

Other smaller monuments in the area. Picture: IMBiblio

The entrance stone is pretty impressive. Picture: Bord Failte

The mound is also ringed by 97 huge stones that are engraved with megalithic art, with the entrance stone by far the most impressive.

Come inside. Picture: Fhwrdh

There are many fascinating sights in the area. Picture: Andrew Dietz

Newgrange is part of a series of 35 monuments known as Bru na Boinne, with the other two main monuments of Knowth and Dowth.

Originally published as Ancient site holds an intriguing secret