The Woodhenge/Pit circle / The Winter Soltice

The Woodhenge/Pit circle / The Winter Soltice (HMEW3)

Location: Clinton Township, Meath 08801 Meath
Country: Ireland
Buy Ireland flags at Flagstore.com!

N 53° 41.664', W 6° 28.452'

  • 0 likes
  • 0 check ins
  • 0 favorites
  • 759 views
Inscription
The Woodhenge/Pit circle

If you were here 4000 years ago in the Early Bronze Age you would be standing inside a large wooden enclosure. The passage tomb was no longer in use at this time but the site was still a focal point for ritual and celebration.

Because the enclosure was made of wood, it hasn't survived above ground. However, evidence of it was found by archaeologists. They found postholes where the huge wooden stakes had been. They also found pits where small animals had been cremated and deep burial shafts where the burnt animal bones were buried. Archaeologists call the enclosure a Woodhenge or Pit Circle.

[In blue box] Five archaeological cuttings revealed the arc of the Woodhenge/Pit Circle

The Winter Soltice

The Winter Soltice Archaeological excavations at Newgrange have shown that the monument was built about 3200BC by Ireland's first farmers, the Neolithic people, who possessed remarkable expertise in engineering, art, architecture and astronomy.

The Research work of the late Professor O'Kelly of University College, Cork led to the reconstruction of the area surrounding the entrance to the tomb and one of his most spectacular discoveries - the illumination of the chamber by the rays of the mid-winter sun.


The roof box
Over the entrance of the passage is a small opening known as the roof box. During the Winter Solstice, i.e. the shortest day of the year, around December 21st the light of the rising sun enters the chamber through this opening. The chamber is illuminated for 17 minutes from 8.58 a.m. (G.M.T.). In 1967 Professor O'Kelly was the first person in modern times to witness this event.

[Small box on marker]A burial at Newgrange c.3200BC. The cremated remains of the dead were placed in the basin stones within the recesses of the chamber.
Details
HM NumberHMEW3
Tags
Placed ByOffice of Public Works
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Thursday, October 16th, 2014 at 6:13am PDT -07:00
Pictures
Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.
Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)29U E 666759 N 5952484
Decimal Degrees53.69440000, -6.47420000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 53° 41.664', W 6° 28.452'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds53° 41' 39.84" N, 6° 28' 27.12" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)908
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 47 Unnamed Road, Clinton Township Meath 08801, IE
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

Is this marker missing? Are the coordinates wrong? Do you have additional information that you would like to share with us? If so, check in.

Nearby Markersshow on map
Check Ins  check in   |    all

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.

Comments 0 comments

Maintenance Issues
  1. Is this marker part of a series?
  2. What historical period does the marker represent?
  3. What historical place does the marker represent?
  4. What type of marker is it?
  5. What class is the marker?
  6. What style is the marker?
  7. Does the marker have a number?
  8. What year was the marker erected?
  9. This marker needs at least one picture.
  10. Can this marker be seen from the road?
  11. Is the marker in the median?