Pre Christian Ireland - New Stone Age - Passage Tombs Flashcards
Where are passage tombs found?
Found in groups on elevated ground.
What is the most know group of passage tombs in Ireland?
Knowth, dowth and newgrange in Bohne valley
Describe the structure of a general passage tomb.
Narrow passage leading to a central burial chamber. Passage walls are made of upright slabs of rock and the roof by horizontal slabs. Some passage tombs have several burial chambers. The burial chamber has a corbelled roof to protect against weathering.
What is a kerbstone?
A slab of rock surrounding the bottom of the passage tomb
What are the passage and the chambers covered by?
A mound of earth or small stones
What do kerbstones usually have?
Decorative motifs
Where is newgrange located?
Located in the Boyne valley in co. Meath. It is high on a hill on the bend of the river boyne overlooking knowth and dowth. 61metres above sea level
How many passage tombs are in boyne valley?
Around 40
How do we know that the Neolithic people were highly organized?
The size and quality of the tombs
Where else in the world can similar art and architecture be found?
Brittany, France, Wales
When was newgrange constructed?
Around 3200 bc
How big is the mound?
11m high
80m in diameter
Where were the stone slabs from?
They were brought by boat around 20 km from Louth
How long is it estimated that newgrange took to build?
30 years
How long is the passage at newgrange?
19 m long. 21 upright stones on the right. 22 on the left
What is the roof of the passage at newgrange made of?
Horizontal slabs
What shape is the burial chamber?
Cruciform (Cross shaped)
How big is the burial chamber at newgrange?
5.5 m in diameter
How many chambers is in newgrange?
3 small chambers off the central chamber
What is a stone basin?
A basin where the ashes and bones of the dead were, it was in the side chambers
How was the roof of the chambers made?
It is a corbelled roof. Large slabs of stone were overlapped on top of each other in layers. The roof is dome shaped with one large capstone on top.
How tall is the corbelled roof at newgrange?
6m above the chamber floor
How is the roof water tights after more than 5000 years?
The builders cut grooves into the outer roof stones in order to channel rainwater away from the chamber
What is the function of the passage tomb at newgrange?
Burial chamber - remains of dead found there
Place of worship of the dead, weather, seasons
Place of gathering for rituals
What surrounds the mound at newgrange?
A quartz facade - it is reflective of the sun
What are monoliths?
standing stones
Where in newgrange are monoliths?
Circle of 12 in the field 15m away surrounding newgrange
Originally 35
What are the two important kerbstones called and where are they?
The entrance stone and kerbstone 52
They are diametrically opposite each other.
What are kerbstones made from?
Granite
How many kerbstones are there.
97
What are the dimensions of kerbstones?
3 - 4 meters long
1.5 meters high
Where did the quartz come from?
Wicklow, 80km away. Brought by boat
What is the roof box?
A special opening above the door at newgrange. Allows the rising sun to travel up the passage and illuminate the burial chamber for 17minutes. Happens from 19 to 23 December every year.
What date is newgrange aligned with?
21 December
Describe how the entrance stone to newgrange is decorated.
Line separating the two sides down the center
lozenges, triskel, spirals, zig-zags, chevrons
Describe how kerbstone 52 is decorated.
Pronounced vertical line down the center
Double spirals
Pocking
Concentric circles
Describe how the standing stone inside the chamber looking towards the passage is decorated.
Lozenges, triskel
Describe the decoration On the lintel of the roofbox.
Triangles
Describe the decoration of the corbelled stones in the burial chamber at newgrange.
Lozenges, zigzag, chevron
