Winter Solstice and Newgrange Stone Age Passage Tomb

The outer appearance of the Newgrange Stone Age Passage Tomb belies its internal structure. True to its name, it is just a passage tomb. One line going in halfway into the tomb and that was it. It seems to be a shame that the rest of the tomb was unused but the builders probably had their reasons. The inside of the passage tomb was unexpectedly dry. However, this was changing with the amount of tourist traffic that this place has seen. Mould could be seen forming on some walls of the inner chamber, most probably caused by the breath of visitors going in. Maybe they would do with some dehumidifiers. One of the most fascinating facts about the Newgrange Stone Age Passage Tomb was how it unexpectedly has something to do with the sun.

If you have been in Ireland, you would understand how important the sun was to the early settlers of the Boyne Valley. In winter, temperatures can really go down, it would seem that there was no hope that things will get any better. That was until the people discovered the winter solstice. This is the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere, it also marks the half way point of winter. This means that from that day onward, things will get better. The builders of the Newgrange Stone Age Passage Tomb incorporated this fact in the structure.

It works together with a few elements to make it work. The passage tomb is actually a very, very gentle slope going up the center of the tomb. Why does that matter? Remember the roof box at the entrance? This feature of the entrance lets light in through the box and leads light into the inner chamber, illuminating the chamber for a few precious minutes. Considering the narrowness of the passage, this can only happen on very few days of the year. You would have probably guessed it, it happens around the time of the winter solstice, give or take a few days. What was amazing was that the roof box was high above our heads when we entered, but when we walk into the center of the tomb, the light coming through the roof box is now level with the center of the tomb, with a beam of light shining from the entrance tracing a line on the passage tomb floor. This was an incredible feature and it is incredible that someone managed to figure this one out for us to appreciate.

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