The Bru-en-Bois complex (dwelling on Bois) is located on a hilltop in County Meath, Ireland, where the Bois River loops. It consists of several prehistoric archaeological sites, among which there is a burial of 40 corridor graves. A corridor grave is usually called a Neolithic tomb (4000-2000 BC), the burial chamber of which stretches along a low corridor. The most famous and impressive monument of the Bru-en-Bois complex is the corridor tombs of Newgrange, Naut and Dauth, of which, of course, Newgrange is the most notable.
One of the greatest prehistoric monuments in the world, the huge Neolithic tomb of Newgrange (in Irish Si An Bhru, which probably means "magic dwelling") was built about 5,100 years ago. It is 600 years older than the Great Pyramids of Giza and 1000 years older than the Stonehenge triliths. The tomb is circular in shape and is about 264 feet in diameter. The structure covers an area of over an acre. The mound, made of alternating layers of small stones and earth, is surrounded by 97 large stones, which are usually called "curb". Some of them are elaborately decorated with megalithic designs and faced with white quartz. Near the entrance there is now a huge slab leaning against the wall, which is usually used to block the entrance to the tomb upon completion of construction. The corridor, which is only a third of the mound's length, is 62 feet. A corridor of roughly hewn stone slabs leads to a cruciform chamber with a marvelous stepped vault at 19 feet. Decorated with spiral lines, the chamber contains three massive stone reservoirs: one of sandstone and two of granite. Archaeologists suggest that cremated remains were once stored here.
For a long time it was an overgrown hill, the small stones of which were used to build a nearby road. The corridor tomb of Newgrange became known again only in 1699. The first person to enter the tomb (which he mistook for a cave) was a Welsh lover of antiquities, former curator of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Edward Luid (1660-1709). He was the first to study Newgrange: he described and sketched the monument. In 1726, Thomas Molyneux published Luid's materials. In 1909, the curator of the National Museum of Irish Antiquities in Dublin, George Coffey, created a catalog of all known corridor tombs, including Newgrange. The book was published in 1912 under the title Newgrange and Other Truncated Mounds of Ireland. In 1962, the first excavations were carried out at the site of the mound under the guidance of Professor Michael J. O 'Kelly from the Department of Archeology, University College of County Cork. During the excavation period (1962-1975), large-scale restoration work was carried out in the massive corridor tomb. Using the stones found near the monument, the reenactors rebuilt the rapeseed facade covered with white quartz. However, it was not without criticism of the restorers: the appearance of the monument was the result of someone's subjective perception, since it reflected the perception of a man of the 20th century. about how the monument was in 3200 BC. e. It has been estimated that the construction of the Newgrange corridor tomb would require 200,000 tons of materials, 300 workers, and would take at least 20-30 years. Round stones from the banks of the Boisne River were used for construction, and white quartz for cladding was brought from the Wicklow Mountains, which is 50 miles from the construction site, and probablydelivered along the Buan River on rafts. The large, monolithic slabs that make up the walls and ceiling of the corridor were apparently transported from a quarry 8.7 miles from the site on wooden rollers. Such work required an enormous workforce, which is only possible in a highly developed and well-organized community.
The megalithic rock paintings (4500-1500 BC) brought wide popularity to the corridor tombs of Newgrange Naut and Dauth: indeed, in the Naut mound there is a quarter of all known megalithic drawings in Europe. Some of the boulders inside Newgrange, as well as the curb stones, are decorated with spiral patterns, cup-shaped and circular signs carved on the back to hide from the casual visitor of the tomb. However, the most impressive are the megalithic drawings on the slab lying at the entrance to the tomb: diamond-shaped patterns and the famous triple spiral (two more images of it were found inside the monument). Similar motifs are found on stones and other monuments - the rock tombs of the Isles of Maine and Anglesey in North Wales. Although these patterns were also used in late Celtic art, it has not been possible to establishwhat do they mean, although, perhaps, it is unidentified inscriptions about astronomical and cosmological observations. Around the Newgrange mound there are 12 stones up to 8 feet in height: Initially, there were apparently 35, but later they were moved for some reason, and some of them collapsed over time. This circle - the latest construction of the complex - was created around 2000 BC. e. At that time, the corridor tomb was already forgotten, but nevertheless this area remained sacred to the local population and, possibly, was associated with astronomy or the worship of the cult of ancestors. This circle - the latest construction of the complex - was created around 2000 BC. e. At that time, the corridor tomb was already forgotten, but nevertheless this area remained sacred to the local population and, possibly, was associated with astronomy or the worship of the cult of ancestors. This circle - the latest construction of the complex - was created around 2000 BC. e. At that time, the corridor tomb was already forgotten, but nevertheless this territory remained sacred to the local population and, possibly, was associated with astronomy or the worship of the cult of ancestors.
It should be noted that Newgrange is most famous for the amazing phenomenon that occurs every year on December 21 or 22. The entrance to the corridor tomb of Newgrange is a doorway consisting of two vertically standing stones and a horizontal lintel. Above it there is an opening called "roof box" or "light box". Every year from 9 am (on the day of the winter solstice - the shortest day of the year) the sun begins to move along the valley of the Buan River. It passes over the hill, which the locals call Red Mountain (the name is probably associated with the color of the rising sun on that day). A ray of the sun, falling into the "light box", penetrates inside, descends down the corridor and illuminates the central chamber on the opposite side of the tomb.
This amazing phenomenon was discovered by Professor Michael O'Kelly only in 1967, although information about it has been preserved in local legends. Newgrange is one of three famous monuments with such "light boxes". The other two are the stone pyramid G of the Carrowkeill megalithic burial complex in County Sligo, Ireland, and the corridor tomb from Bryn Celli Ddu in Anglesey, North Wales. Perhaps there is a fourth monument - a burial chamber, which was discovered in 1998 at Kranthite on the Orkney Islands in Scotland, but this issue is still controversial.
However, Newgrange is the largest and best preserved ancient structure. This stunning structure is a convincing proof that the inhabitants of this area already had knowledge of geodesy and astronomy during the Neolithic period, and the creation of a monument based on the movement of the sun on the day of the winter solstice shows that the sun had an important place in their beliefs.
The most controversial issue is the appointment of Newgrange. During the excavation of the chambers, only a few archaeological finds have been found, but they provide very little information, since everyone has been open here for centuries (from 1699 to 1962, when O'Kelly discovered the monument). Two burials and at least three cremated bodies were found. They were all at the bottom of a large stone tank, which apparently contained the bones of the dead. Considering that most of the materials were repeatedly moved during previous studies, and the fact that all the collected human bones were only fragments of bodies, today it is extremely difficult to isolate individual burials. More than five people must have been buried in the cell. The archaeological finds inside the monument do not make much of an impression: a few gold objects,in particular, two gold torcs (a grivna - an ornament worn around the neck - woven from several strands), a gold chain and two rings, as well as a huge phallus-like stone, several pendants and beads, a bone chisel and several bone bolts. In Newgrange, very few pottery was found, which is typical of burials in corridor tombs: apparently, they were intended only for a special kind of activity and a limited number of people. It must be said that not all researchers consider Newgrange a burial ground. African in origin, Chris O'Kellsgen, in his book Newgrange - Temple of Life (2004), refutes the Gom version that Newgrange was a corridor tomb, since there is no strong evidence that there were human burials in Newgrange. He believes that the fragments of bones found during the excavationmay have been brought there by animals after Newgrange ceased to function. According to O'Callegen's theory, the monument was built in honor of the celebration of the union of the sun god and Mother Earth - symbols of life force. The "light box", or solar window, allowed the sun god to enter the corridor of the mound (representing Mother Earth) and reach the chamber located at the back (symbolizing the womb). This theory is partly supported by the construction of the monument associated with the amazing effect on the day of the winter solstice, as well as by the phallus-shaped column and chalk balls found in the chamber, which could symbolize male genitals. Be that as it may, Newgrange's role is not limited to one function. As already mentioned, the few human remains found in the mound,do not allow all the cameras to be considered Neolithic burials, since some of the bones could have been removed from the territory of the monument by carrion-eating animals or people who are looking for remains. There is no doubt about the connection between Newgrange and Irish mythology. Until the XX century. its name has been preserved - "shi", or "fairy mound", which is mentioned in the legends about Tuat De Danann, the ancient mythical ruler of Ireland, his guardian angel Angus Mac-Oge and the legendary hero Cuchulainn. Many theories based on mythology have been put forward: Newgrange was considered the home of the dead, in the corridors and chambers of which a dry climate was maintained so that the spirits living here felt comfortable, and the roof box was opened and closed, allowing the spirits to enter and leave the tomb; or it was the dwelling of the great god Dagda,to whom numerous gifts were brought on a certain day of the year. Archaeological evidence suggests that when Newgrange ceased to be a tomb and observatory, sacrifices were actually performed there. All kinds of Roman objects were found on the territory of the monument, in particular gold coins, pendants (pendants) and brooches, sometimes minted. Since the Romans never invaded Irish lands, many of these gifts must have come from the Romans or the British of Roman descent, and possibly the pilgrims who considered this monument, which was already 3,000 years old, sacred.in particular gold coins, pendants (pendants) and brooches, sometimes minted. Since the Romans never invaded Irish lands, many of these gifts must have come from the Romans or the British of Roman descent, and possibly the pilgrims who considered this monument, which was already 3,000 years old, sacred.in particular gold coins, pendants (pendants) and brooches, sometimes minted. Since the Romans never invaded Irish lands, many of these gifts must have come from the Romans or the British of Roman descent, and possibly the pilgrims who considered this monument, which was already 3,000 years old, sacred.
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In 1993, Newgrange and the Naut and Dauth corridor tombs were recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites of great cultural and historical importance. Today, over 200,000 people visit Newgrange every year. Since there is no direct access to this place, people are taken there by tourist groups from Bru-en-Bois. Those wishing to see the enchanting winter solstice on the 20th of December will have to wait a very long time, since in 2005 about 27,000 applications were submitted to visit the tomb at this time. You can get into the tomb during the winter solstice only by winning the lottery: you need to get a questionnaire at the reception of the Bru-en-Bois visitor center and fill it out; at the beginning of October, 50 people are chosen - 10 for each morning when the tomb is illuminated, and the lucky ones take turns at the place in the tomb from which this stunning effect can be seen. One can only guess how those who will observe the winter solstice were chosen during the Neolithic period.
B. Houghton. Great secrets and mysteries of history