Newgrange, Knowth & Dowth...

• Visual Art
• Secondary Education

Thinking of the reason why NG was built.
What would it have been like to gather there for each reason.

Newgrange, Knowth & Dowth...

What do we already know about the Stone Age?

Approximately when did the Neolithic period occur in Ireland?

1. 1700-1000 BCE
2. 2500-1700 BCE
3. 4000-2500 BCE
4. 10,000-4000 BCE

Which time period marked the beginning of the Stone Age in Ireland?

1. Bronze Age
2. Mesolithic
3. Neolithic
4. Iron Age

During which time period did the Stone Age in Ireland end?

1. Iron Age
2. Bronze Age
3. Mesolithic
4. Neolithic

What was the approximate duration of the Neolithic period in the Stone Age in Ireland?

1. 10,000-4000 BCE
2. 2500-1700 BCE
3. 1700-1000 BCE
4. 4000-2500 BCE

During which period did the Stone Age in Ireland end?

1. Neolithic
2. Iron Age
3. Bronze Age
4. Mesolithic

Which period of the Stone Age in Ireland occurred from 10,000-4000 BCE?

1. Bronze Age
2. Mesolithic
3. Paleolithic
4. Neolithic

Which of the following is an example of a work from the Neolithic period in Ireland?

1. The Book of Kells
2. The Blarney Stone
3. Newgrange in Co. Meath
4. The three-faced pagan statue at Corleck

Which material soon replaced stone as a more versatile medium for tools, weapons, and ornaments?

1. Bone
2. Clay
3. Wood
4. Metal

What distinguishes the burial monuments from the Neolithic period?

1. Highly-organised system of pattern making
2. Use of metal
3. Religious significance
4. Immense size of the stones

During which period did Ireland's earliest-known artistic achievements date from?

1. Neolithic period
2. Iron Age
3. Medieval period
4. Bronze Age

Religious and Spiritual Significance: One prevailing theory is that Newgrange had religious and spiritual significance. Its alignment with the rising sun during the winter solstice, when sunlight penetrates the inner chamber through a roof box, suggests a connection to sun worship. This alignment may have symbolized the renewal of life, the victory of light over darkness, and the cyclical nature of the seasons, all of which are common themes in ancient religions.

Calendar and Agricultural Use: The precise alignment of Newgrange with the solstices suggests that it could have functioned as a primitive calendar. The changing position of the sun's rays inside the tomb may have helped early agricultural societies mark important dates for planting or harvesting crops, thereby assisting in agricultural planning and the organization of their agricultural calendar.

Ceremonial and Burial Site: Newgrange's design as a passage grave within a large mound indicates its role as a burial site. It may have been used for the ceremonial burial of important individuals or as a communal burial place for a specific group of people. The intricate carvings and patterns found inside the chamber could have held symbolic significance related to the afterlife or other aspects of the burial ritual.

Community Gathering and Social Function: Newgrange's construction was a collaborative effort that would have required the cooperation of a community. It is possible that it served as a place for communal gatherings, rituals, and social functions, strengthening the bonds within the society.

Symbol of Power and Prestige: The construction of Newgrange was a complex and labor-intensive endeavor. It is conceivable that the creation of such an imposing structure was a demonstration of the power and prestige of the community or its leaders. The monument may have been intended to assert the authority and influence of the builders within the region.

Why might the markings on passage grave chambers be isolated, according to the text?

Describe the decorative markings on the entrance kerbstone and their organisation.

How did the use of metal, like bronze and gold, stabilise prehistoric society?

What is corbelling, and how was it used in the construction of passage graves?

Discuss the possible roles of Newgrange, including sun worship and its use as a calendar, based on the information provided.

Key Words:

Neolithic period

Burial monuments

Prehistoric man

Megalithic

Burial monuments

Circle

Mounds

Passage graves

Kerb

Corbelling

Alignment

Primitive calendar

Cultural importance.

Settlement

Communities

Ritual of death