Newgrange
Do you know what the oldest structure in the world is? It is older than Stonehenge, older than the Great Pyramids, and older than the cave paintings in Lascaux. It is Newgrange, which we are talking about this week to celebrate St. Patrick's day! As historians and archaeologists have discovered and uncovered more information on this monument it has helped contextualize other monuments, like Stonehenge, and track arts and cultural growth prehistorically.
What’s the story
[figure 1] Newgrange, 3200 BC, 13 x 80m (1 acre), County Meath, Ireland, photo by Anthony Murphy.
Newgrange is estimated to have been built around 3,200 BC, during the Stone Age, by farmers and other locals. This prehistoric monument is around 5,200 years old and has been claimed to be an ancient tomb and temple. Newgrange is about one acre in size, with a height of around thirteen meters and a diameter of around eighty meters. The monument looks like a slightly elevated hill and the only thing that makes it stand out as a building, instead of just a hill, are the stones that surround Newgrange [figure 1]. To build this monument and tomb, the farmers used a corbeled roof, which meant they layered stones on top of each other, slowly moving inwards until the capstone could be placed on top of the roof. Then, grass and foliage grew over the top of the roof, creating a seal, that keeps Newgrange waterproof to this day. Newgrange is located in the Boyne Valley in County Meath and is close to other mounds that probably served a similar purpose, but are not quite as old. The Boyne Valley is centered around the Boyne River, which is the source for all of the stones that created the internal and external structures of the monuments. All of these monuments have been deemed World Heritage sites.
The stones that surround Newgrange, which are unique to this monument, are called kerbstones. There are almost one hundred kerbstones in total and many of them have prehistoric art patterns engraved in them. These engravings are definitely an interesting thing to look at while exploring Newgrange, but it is even more interesting that historians have begun to associate certain patterns with stories or legends. The entrance kerbstone is one of the most memorable parts of Newgrange [figures 2 and 3]. It is carved with a repetitive pattern of spirals with occasional herringbone patterns as well. As it serves as the entrance stone, it has also been continuously investigated for deeper meaning within the patterns. Some think it is a map of the area, with the spirals representing the cairns, or mounds, like Newgrange and the herringbone patterns represent the Boyne River. Others think that the patterns are narrating a legend or religious origin story. Some have even come up with theories about musical associations, weather recordings, or a way of describing what Newgrange is. The rest of these kerbstones continue this spiral pattern, but with varying placement and sizes, which tells us, at the very least, that the spiral pattern is symbolic of a greater meaning.
[figure 2] Entrance of Newgrange
[figure 3] Entrance kerbstone at Newgrange
[figure 4] Interior room in Newgrange
Another interesting part of Newgrange, as a monument is its connection to the winter solstice. Many monolithic monuments in the United Kingdom and Ireland that have survived often have some connection to the winter or summer solstice. To understand the significance of the winter solstice to Newgrange, we have to talk about the purpose of this monument. Newgrange was almost certainly a tomb. We know this because the space inside of the cairn is not very large. It is made up of a singular hallway that is about 20 meters long and a small room, with a handful of alcoves. In the room, there are basin stones, which are just large flat stones where the bodies of the deceased were placed [figure 4]. Historians and archaeologists have figured out that some of the bodies were cremated and grave goods were left inside of Newgrange as well. So, this sounds pretty normal, except for the fact that there were really only spaces for about five or six bodies to be buried inside of the monument, so it feels like there may be more significance to this tomb than it may originally seem. According to Irish legends, the theory is that Newgrange, and other monuments like it, are portals to the "Otherworld", which seems likely when we consider the effect of the winter solstice on this site.
[figure 5] light from the solstice in Newgrange
The winter solstice may just be a magnificent coincidence, but on the day of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, the light from the sun will shine directly back into the burial room and shine light into the chamber for the longest amount of time that year [figure 5]. This phenomenon has now become something that you can travel to Newgrange and witness in person, but only if you enter into a lottery to get a free ticket for that day. It lasts about fifteen to seventeen minutes. For the culture in the Boyne River Valley, the winter solstice was how they marked the passing of the year, both before and after Newgrange was built. So, it was symbolic of changes and improvements. The winter solstice also had a mystic quality about it where it seemed as though there was a bridge between life and death, promising light at the end of the tunnel, which is literal when it comes to the hallway inside of Newgrange.
Also, if we can revisit the purpose of Newgrange, we can see how it has served as a foundation for our guesses about other neolithic monuments, like Stonehenge. One of the most common theories about the famous circle of stones just outside of Salisbury is that it is either a burial site or a memorial of some kind. Newgrange and Stonehenge both have circular structures, used large stones, or monoliths, and are oriented to emphasize the winter or summer solstice. So, although we cannot assume anything about the purpose of these monuments, we can theorize that they served similar purposes.
One more interesting thing about Newgrange is that before it was officially a World Heritage site, visitors often added their own mark to this monument in the form of graffiti. Now, this isn't necessarily unheard of, but the fascinating part is that this graffiti can date back to as early as the nineteenth century. This graffiti has also been preserved, but it is no longer encouraged to leave your mark within the tomb.
Why is it important to art history?
Studying spaces like Newgrange allow historians and archaeologists to get a better sense of the cultural aspects of prehistoric societies. Most of our sources for prehistory come from tombs and burial monuments that have survived because they are closed off, like the Great Pyramids in Giza, or have been made to last, like Stonehenge. These burial sites will also, normally, include burial goods - things that would be taken with the deceased into the afterlife - which give us a better understanding of how the society viewed death, how the society functioned socially, and what they valued. Newgrange is the earliest monument we have that serves this purpose. So, although it may remain a bit of a mystery, it is extremely important to art history.
How can you form your own perspective?
If you can, I would highly recommend visiting Newgrange, because it is an interesting and educational experience. However, if you cannot visit it anytime soon the best way to understand the significance of this monument is by looking into other burial sites. Dive into the myths, legends, and theories and see what you can find out. Build your own theories about how these prehistoric masterpieces were created. Revel in the mystery, and ask yourself why!
Byrne, Martin. “The Entrance Stone at Newgrange.” Father O'Flanagan's History and Heritage Pages, http://www.carrowkeel.com/sites/boyne/newgrange4a.html.
“Newgrange - World Heritage Site.” Newgrange Stone Age Passage Tomb - Boyne Valley, Ireland, https://www.newgrange.com/.
“Newgrange.” World Heritage Ireland, https://www.worldheritageireland.ie/bru-na-boinne/built-heritage/newgrange/.
