UNIT 7 PRE-CHRISTIAN IRELAND (c. 4000 BC–AD 500)


l The Great Circle is a ring of standing stones that surrounds the mound, 7 m to 12 m outside it. Only 12 undecorated stones remain standing out of an original 35. This ring of standing stones may be more modern than the mound, possibly from the Bronze Age.


Research the arrangement of quartz stones at Newgrange and Knowth. Make drawings and write your opinion on which arrangement you prefer and give reasons for your answer.


Have a class discussion on the merits of one arrangement of quartz stones over the other.


Construction


The mound at Newgrange is 11 m tall and between 79 m and 85 m in diameter.


Building large structures like these was a heroic task for Stone Age people. Their technology was limited to what they could carry, pull or lever into place, yet they moved large stones up to five tons in weight across country that may have been forested.


Layout


Construction probably began with the layout of the passages, as their orientation to the sun or moonlight was an essential part of the purpose of the structure. The line of the kerb would need to be laid out early


Section of passage and chamber


Path of


light on 21 December


Light box


Entrance stone Plan of passage 10m 0 10m 0 10m


Basin stones


Plan of mound


Section through chamber showing corbelling


Passage 060 Figure 20.18 Newgrange plan and section. CHAPTER 20 THE STONE AGE (c. 4000–2000 BC) 060 0


295


N N


N N


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