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THE BOYNE VALLEY MONUMENTS �
Where Time, Mind and Space are Mapped.
On Saturday, 20th October, we will be going by bus to the famous Stone Age monuments of
the Boyne Valley � a World Heritage site.
This�bend in the Boyne� location consists of three major so-called passage graves about 5,000 years old:
the mighty mounds of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth, plus an array of smaller chambered mounds, standing stones
and other sites, including a Neolithic timber circle. It is one of the world�s most remarkable archaeological
landscapes, of which Knowth and Newgrange are the main features (Dowth has not yet been opened to the public).
The complex is often referred to as Bru na Boinne, the palace by the Boyne.
Knowth is the largest of the three great mounds, and the largest of its kind in Ireland, having a roughly
oval-shaped plan 312 feet across its longest axis and covering over an acre. It has two internal passages
aligned east and west respectively, each ending in stone chambers � one undifferentiated, the other a corbelled
structure over 20 feet high. There is debate as to whether the passages orient to equinoctial sun rise/set
positions or lunar declinations. Knowth has 127 continuous kerbstones placed around its external base, most
of which are decorated with mysterious rock art imagery and are easily visible. More rock art was found inside
the mound � in fact, it is claimed that Knowth on its own accounts for nearly half the rock art in Ireland
(some say in western Europe)!
The great mound is surrounded by 17 � 19 (claims vary) smaller satellite mounds.
Newgrange is probably contemporary with Knowth and is 300ft in diameter. Around its base are 97 kerbstones
some of which are decorated with carvings. It has a single passage 62ft long ending in a corbelled chamber
20 feet high. The passage aligns to the rising winter solstice sun, providing one of the most dramatic and
best confirmed examples of ancient astronomy. The midwinter sun streams through a special lightbox situated
above the passage entrance and for a short while enters the chamber, making the stones there glow like copper
ingots. The chamber has three side-chambers or recesses, and large stone basins were found in two of them.
There is rock art in the passage and in the chamber recesses, including a famous triple spiral carving.
Ringed by an incomplete circle of standing stones, Newgrange, like Knowth,
is considerably older than Egypt�s Great Pyramid, and is one of the oldest roofed structures in the world.
Our conference venue is located not very far from this complex and we will hear more about Knowth and
Newgrange in the Thursday evening presentation at the conference, as well as being able to take the
pre-arranged trip to visit them on the Saturday � an experience of mapping time, mind and space not
to be missed. Access is only by guided tour, however, and numbers of people visiting the two monuments
is strictly controlled, so delegates will be divided into two groups
by the site authorities, one to visit Knowth, the other to Newgrange.
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