Newgrange facts for kids
Newgrange is an amazing ancient tomb in County Meath, Republic of Ireland. It's a huge stone structure called a Megalithic Passage Tomb. Imagine, it was built around 3200 BC, which means it's even older than the Egyptian pyramids!
This special place looks like a big, kidney-shaped hill. It covers more than an acre of land and has 97 large stones, called kerbstones, all around its edge. Some of these stones have cool ancient art carved into them. Inside, there's a long, narrow passage, about 19 meters (62 feet) long, that leads to a special room shaped like a cross. The roof of this room is built with stones that stick out, one over the other, like steps, forming a dome. Experts believe it took about 300 people at least 20 years to build Newgrange!
One of the most incredible things about Newgrange happens during the Winter Solstice. This is the shortest day of the year, usually around December 21st. At dawn on this day, and for a few mornings around it, a beam of sunlight shines through a special opening above the entrance. This light travels all the way down the long passage and lights up the main chamber inside. It's a dramatic event that lasts for about 17 minutes!
If you want to be inside the Newgrange chamber to see the Winter Solstice sunrise, you have to enter a special lottery. You can get application forms at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. For example, in 2007, over 28,000 people applied! Every September, 50 names are chosen, and each lucky winner gets two spots to experience this amazing event.
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Ancient Mounds and Legends
Newgrange and other similar stone mounds became part of Irish mythology. People in ancient Ireland believed these mounds were sídhe, or fairy mounds. Newgrange was even said to be the home of Oenghus, who was the god of love in Irish stories.
Newgrange was "re-discovered" in 1699. Workers were taking away stones to build a road when they found the hidden entrance. A big dig, called an excavation, started in 1962. During this work, the outside of Newgrange was carefully rebuilt. It used to have a sparkling white quartz wall, and the builders used stones found right at the site to bring back its original look.
A World Heritage Site
Newgrange is so important that UNESCO has named it a World Heritage Site. This means it's a place of special cultural or historical importance to everyone in the world. Because of this, about 200,000 people visit Newgrange every year!
You can't just walk right up to Newgrange on your own. You need to go on a guided tour from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. This center is near the village of Donore in County Meath. Make sure to get there early, as the last tour starts 90 minutes before the Visitor Centre closes.
Inside the Newgrange Chamber
Inside the chamber at Newgrange, you can see amazing ancient carvings on the stones. One of the most famous designs is a tri-spiral. This is a symbol with three spirals connected together. It's on a stone called orthostat C10. Many people think it's a Celtic design, but it was carved at least 2500 years before the Celts even arrived in Ireland! The tri-spiral design inside the chamber is about 12 inches (30 cm) across, which is smaller than the one on the entrance stone.
Images for kids
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Gold jewellery from Roman times found near the mound (British Museum)
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The entrance to Newgrange in the late 1800s, when the mound was very overgrown
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The entrance to Newgrange in the early 1900s, after some cleaning
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A model of the chamber, at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre
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The retaining wall and kerbstones.
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