Chp.1 Neolithic Period

Question 1

Megalithic monuments

Answer 1

Functions
>Resting place for the dead
>Lasting monuments to ancestors
>Perhaps symbol of power

Types
> portal dolmens
> court cairns
> passage grave

Question 2

Portal Dolman

Answer 2

Form:
Based on a tripod
Two large standing stones and lower back stone supporting a large roof stone

Example: Poulnabrone, Co.Clare

Function: above ground burial chamber

Question 3

Court Cairn

Answer 3

Form:
Oval circular or semi circular courtyard at the entrance leads into one or more burial chambers
narrow entrance passage lined with upright stones
leads into an oval courtyard at the entrance to the burial area
there are two large upright stones do you support a horizontal little stone and create a doorway
originally covered by a corbelled roof covered with a cairn of loose stones

Example: CreevyKeel, Co.Sligo

Function: to serve as a tomb and to accommodate some kind of ritual

Question 4

Newgrange passage tomb - location

Answer 4

Located at Bru na Boinne in Co.Meath an area 4km long and 3km wide and enclosed by a bend in the river Boyne.
40 mounds in the area with Newgrange, knowth and Dowth being the largest.

Question 5

Newgrange passage tomb - structure

Answer 5

New Grange consists of a passage and burial chamber covered by an earth and mound which is 11 m high and 80 m in diameter
the passage is 19 m long
there are 21 upright stones lining the passage on the right and 22 on the left
horizontal slabs form the roof of the passage
the burial chamber is cross-shaped
It is 5.5 m in diameter
it has three side chambers off the central chamber
there are stone basins which contained the ashes and bones of the dead in the side Chambers
there are 97 kerbstone surrounding the outer surface of the passage grave
There are 12 large standing stones circling the tomb and at a distance of 15 m from the tomb
above the doorway at new Grange there is a special opening called the roof box the purpose of the roof box is to allow the rising sun to travel up the passage and illuminate the burial chamber for about 17 minutes this happens from the 19th to the 23rd of December each year or the winter solstice December 21

Question 6

Newgrange passage tomb - construction techniques

Answer 6

The roof of the chamber was constricted using the corbelling technique large slabs were overlapped on top of each other in layers 
the roof  (6 m high) is sloped inwords like a dome and a is sealed by a capstone on top
 the Builders cut Grooves into the Outer Roof Stones in Order to Channel Rainwater Away from the Chamber

Question 7

Newgrange passage tomb - Materials

Answer 7

The stone slabs used were brought by boat from Co.Louth
they were rolled on logs and pulled up earthen ramps
the white quartz came from Wicklow 80 km away
the rounded granite from the Cooley peninsular 50 km away

Question 8

Newgrange passage tomb - time

Answer 8

The megalithic passage tomb at new Grange was constructed around 3200 BC

Question 9

Newgrange passage tomb - decoration

Answer 9

Found on the entrance stone
kerbstone 52
lintel above the roof box
corbelled stones in the roof of the chamber standing stone in the chamber

Curvilinear and rectilinear motifs such as concentric circles clockwise and anticlockwise spirals chevrons and lozenges

Freehand an abstract it is thought they might have an astronomical connection or religious meaning of being part of a primitive calendar

Entrance stone is the most spectacular with it spiral and lozenge ornament it is a large a regular Boulder that is 1.68 m high and 3.3 m long

The curvilinear pottering found on the entrance down emphasise the size there is also vertical line in the centre which divides the spirals and lozenges on the left and the curve spirals and lozenges on the right

Curbstone 52 similar in size and shape and has found directly behind the mound opposite the entrance stone it hasn’t even more pronounced vertical line and has some marking similar to those on the entrance

Question 10

Entrance stone

Answer 10

The entrance stone at new Grange is elaborately engraved with pleasing decorative patterns includes the following features vertical dividing line in the centre
3 anti clockwise double spirals on the left
2 clockwise double spirals on the right
double spirals constructed using two separate lines
concentric half circles
lozenges

Question 11

Kerbstone 52

Answer 11

There are 97 curb sounds all together which were mostly transported from the coast a clogger head kerbstone 52 is directly opposite the decorated entrance stone

Question 12

Function of passage tombs

Answer 12

Hold remains of important people astronomically align with the sun
Enact sun worship
Hold pagan rituals
Indicate tribal territories

Question 13

People at newgrange

Answer 13

The people who build new Grange cremated the dead and mix the ashes with those of earlier ancestors these ashes restored and stone basins in the burial chamber in mouth archaeologist discovered the remains of around 200 people

Question 14

Roof box

Answer 14

The purpose of the roof box to allow the rising sun to illuminate the burial chamber for about 17 minutes this happens from the 19th to the 23rd of December each year
knowth is aligned to the spring and autumn equinox is 20th or 21st of March and 22nd and 23rd of September

Question 15

Rockart

Answer 15

The meaning of the motifs carved on the rocks is unclear probably represents solar and lunar cycles they may have had a religious meaning they may also have been a form of writing some of the rock art may represent human faces although experts disagree on this point
there are two types of motifs curvilinear and rectilinear
Neolithic rock art in Ireland is abstract
curved and straight lines are used to create mainly geometric motives the rock art of Irish megalithic tombs is carved mainly on kerbstones
entrance stones stones lining burial chambers and passages and stone basins