Newgrange - Geraldine Stout and Matthew Stout

Newgrange is the most visited archaeological site in Ireland. Every year around 250,000 people come to see this Neolithic passage tomb. Designed for the general reader with an interest in Irish prehistory, this book explains the results of decades of excavation and analysis in one volume. It is written in a lively style that seeks at the same time to be authoritative and thorough.

Aside from its accessibility and good state of preservation, Newgrange's Winter Solstice phenomenon, in particular, has made it famous throughout the world. While it is the best-known ancient site in Ireland, many aspects of Newgrange are not clearly understood; other aspects are just taken for granted: why is there a three metre high quartz wall around its entrance; how does the roof box work; what was the inspiration for its art and architecture?

The book is arranged in such a way as to replicate a visit to the site. It pauses over points of art and construction that the visitor will not have had time to examine in detail on a conventional guided tour. Newgrange is the synthesis of years of excavation and research at home and abroad; from the detailed reports stemming from the excavations of M.J. O'Kelly to the current international debate about its construction and reconstruction.

This is the first book on Newgrange to draw on O'Kelly's private papers and to incorporate the results of more recent and as yet unpublished excavations. This book will clarify many complex issues that have been addressed in widely scattered publications, using original illustrations to assist the reader, and more importantly, it places the monument in its broader cultural context.

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Preface

Newgrange is the most visited archaeological site in Ireland. Every year, 250,000 people come to see this Neolithic passage tomb set in the rich pastureland of County Meath. Visitors are attracted to Newgrange because it is simply the finest example of a passage tomb in Western Europe, and its winter solstice phenomenon, in particular, has made it famous throughout the world.

It is also conveniently located only an hour from Dublin. When the new millennium was dawning, RTÉ (the Irish national broadcasting company) set the celebrations in motion by broadcasting the winter solstice sunrise at Newgrange to millions of people around the world. While it is the best-known ancient site in Ireland, many aspects of Newgrange are not clearly understood, and others are simply taken for granted.

As two archaeologists with lifetimes of experience in the Boyne Valley, we share with most visitors the same uncertainties about the tomb. Why is there a three-metre-high quartz wall around its entrance? How does the roof box work? What was the inspiration for its art and architecture? We had given many tours of the Boyne Valley, including Newgrange, but never entirely came to grips with the mysteries of its most prominent monument. We chose to write this book in order to learn more about Newgrange for our own benefit and pleasure, and to present our findings to the general reader. This is our personal interpretation of an intricate and often hotly debated story.

The book is arranged in such a way as to replicate a visit to the site. For those who have been to Newgrange, it will be a reminder of the things that were seen on the tour. It pauses over points of art and construction that the visitor will not have had time to examine in detail on a conventional excursion.

Newgrange is the synthesis of years of excavation and research at home and abroad, from the detailed reports stemming from the excavations of M.J. O'Kelly, the most advanced for their time, to current international debate about its construction and reconstruction. This is the first book on Newgrange to draw on O'Kelly's private papers and to incorporate the results of more recent, and as yet unpublished, excavations.

This book will clarify many complex issues that have been addressed in widely scattered forums, using original illustrations to assist the reader. It also places the monument in its broader cultural context. Our search for the origins of Newgrange took us to Brittany, Spain, Portugal, Malta, the Orkney Islands, and Wales, and it has enriched our understanding of its place in European prehistory. This book will enhance the reader's appreciation of the strong links between Newgrange and monuments in the rest of Europe.

For those who have not yet been to Newgrange, this book provides a detailed introduction to the history of the site and enhances a later visit. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it.

Reviews

The book is most attractively designed and produced by Cork University Press and is an invaluable addition to the ever expanding literature on Irish prehistory.
Liam Irwin - North Munster Antiquarian Journal.

Throughout the lavish and clear illustrations make it easy to understand the monument and to follow the narrative. This is a cracking read and outstandingly good value.
Alison Sheridan - British Archaeology.

This little book is designed for a generalist audience: those who have visited, plan to visit or wish they could visit the neolithic passage tomb of Newgrange County Meath. Its authors make no pretence that it is other than a personal interpretation of this much discussed monument. It is a beautifully illustrated book; its many high quality colour photographs and drawings alone making it a valuable acquisition for anyone interested in Newgrange.
Australian Journal of Irish Studies