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Locations in Wales
Ffynnon Rhedyw - the oldest known sacred well sites in Wales. It is located in Llanllyfni, near Caernarfon. The
Gwynedd Archaeological Trust is working on restoring the site, creating information boards, etc. in 2006. This was an
important site, and in fact was a pagan pilgrimage spot en route to Bardsey island.
Gwynedd Archaeological Trust is working on restoring the site, creating information boards, etc. in 2006. This was an
important site, and in fact was a pagan pilgrimage spot en route to Bardsey island.
Anglesey - this site was the core religious site of the Druids, with it's spiritual epicenter a sacred grove. It is an
island located off of the northwest coast of Wales. The main island is separated from Wales by the Menai Strait. Off
of this sacred island lies another island which is considered part of the county of Anglesey called Holy Island. This
name has been given to the smaller island because of the large number of standing stones and burial cysts which
remain on the island.
Anglesey was attacked by the Roman General Suetonius Paullinus to destroy the seat of power of the Druids. He
destroyed the central shrine and the sacred groves in about 60 AD. This is the same Roman General who ordered
the rape of the daughters of Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni, while she was beaten by Roman soldiers. If you are
unfamiliar with the story of Boudicca - she started a great revolt against the Romans but in the end was not successful.
There still remain 28 dolmens (or cromlechs) on the Island of Anglesey overlooking the Menai Strait along with a
number of standing stones throughout the island.
In April 2006, the Guardian published an article announcing that a decorated burial slab created over 4500
years ago was discovered. The slab found at Barclodiad y Gawres was for the dead and their guardians and was
covered with a chevron design and a cup ring mark on the northeast corner of the capstone. This is the 6th such slab
discovered at this site, although the others have different designs. Archaeologists generally agree that the carvings
deep within the passage graves must have been part of a complex ritual of the dead. In tombs like Barclodiad y
Gawres, carvings are only visible from within the tomb, and often have marked thresholds, lintels or entrances to the
chambers.
island located off of the northwest coast of Wales. The main island is separated from Wales by the Menai Strait. Off
of this sacred island lies another island which is considered part of the county of Anglesey called Holy Island. This
name has been given to the smaller island because of the large number of standing stones and burial cysts which
remain on the island.
Anglesey was attacked by the Roman General Suetonius Paullinus to destroy the seat of power of the Druids. He
destroyed the central shrine and the sacred groves in about 60 AD. This is the same Roman General who ordered
the rape of the daughters of Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni, while she was beaten by Roman soldiers. If you are
unfamiliar with the story of Boudicca - she started a great revolt against the Romans but in the end was not successful.
There still remain 28 dolmens (or cromlechs) on the Island of Anglesey overlooking the Menai Strait along with a
number of standing stones throughout the island.
In April 2006, the Guardian published an article announcing that a decorated burial slab created over 4500
years ago was discovered. The slab found at Barclodiad y Gawres was for the dead and their guardians and was
covered with a chevron design and a cup ring mark on the northeast corner of the capstone. This is the 6th such slab
discovered at this site, although the others have different designs. Archaeologists generally agree that the carvings
deep within the passage graves must have been part of a complex ritual of the dead. In tombs like Barclodiad y
Gawres, carvings are only visible from within the tomb, and often have marked thresholds, lintels or entrances to the
chambers.
a map of Anglesey to
re-create the original site as
drawn by the Rev. Henry
Rowlands in 1723
re-create the original site as
drawn by the Rev. Henry
Rowlands in 1723
Locations in England
Milfield Village, Northumberland - this is thought to be one of the largest Neolithic settlements in
Britain with 9 ritual centers. Found in a Northumberland quarry, so far archaeologists have uncovered 3
buildings from the early Neolithic period (4000 BC) 3 from the later Neolithic period (abt 3000 BC), tools,
pottery, ritual objects and a human burial pit.
The vicinity is dominated by the Yeavering Bell hill fort, built 1,000 years after the huts and henges found
so far. The buildings are surrounded by timber and earth bank henges very close in date and it is
assumed they must have been built by the same people. Each building was rectangular and made of
timber and possibly thatch. The largest was 13 metres long and 5 metres wide. The houses are 900m
from a series of henge monuments - the largest of which was 100m in diameter and surrounded by
banks, ditches and scores of wooden obelisks.
There is an even earlier settlement from 6000 BC which appears to have consisted of two roundhouses
and a grain storage building - and reveals evidence of prehistoric ritual practice. Inside one of the
houses, archaeologists have found the remains of an adolescent human skeleton buried in a pit. It is
possible that this person was a close relative who the inhabitants of the house wanted to keep within the
family, even after death. This site also had 3 storage pits; in one pit archaeologists have found a
rough-out for a carved stone ball, of a type thought to have been used in rituals.
Britain with 9 ritual centers. Found in a Northumberland quarry, so far archaeologists have uncovered 3
buildings from the early Neolithic period (4000 BC) 3 from the later Neolithic period (abt 3000 BC), tools,
pottery, ritual objects and a human burial pit.
The vicinity is dominated by the Yeavering Bell hill fort, built 1,000 years after the huts and henges found
so far. The buildings are surrounded by timber and earth bank henges very close in date and it is
assumed they must have been built by the same people. Each building was rectangular and made of
timber and possibly thatch. The largest was 13 metres long and 5 metres wide. The houses are 900m
from a series of henge monuments - the largest of which was 100m in diameter and surrounded by
banks, ditches and scores of wooden obelisks.
There is an even earlier settlement from 6000 BC which appears to have consisted of two roundhouses
and a grain storage building - and reveals evidence of prehistoric ritual practice. Inside one of the
houses, archaeologists have found the remains of an adolescent human skeleton buried in a pit. It is
possible that this person was a close relative who the inhabitants of the house wanted to keep within the
family, even after death. This site also had 3 storage pits; in one pit archaeologists have found a
rough-out for a carved stone ball, of a type thought to have been used in rituals.
Stonehenge - there is too much for a quick review, so please click on the link to learn more about
Stonehenge.
Stonehenge.
Locations in Scotland
Callanish Stones - located on the Isle of Lewis in the Western Hebrides. This is s tone circle with 4
avenues leading towards it, one of which with 2 rows of stone. The stones here are slender and tall.
Every 18.61 years, a major lunar standstill occurs and the circle is in alignment with this effect. The
moon appears to pass within the stones during this time. If a person stands on a rocky hillock at the
higher south end of the site, the moon is dramatically "reborn" with a person silhouetted within it.
The stones tower to a height of nearly 13 feet high and the main monument covers an area around
3 square miles. The circle itself comprises 13 upright stones with a huge megalith at the centre marking
a later burial cairn. Callanish is different though The stone settings that run away from the circle in the
form of a cross and the presence of at least six other stone circles in the vicinity.
Local folklore says that on midsummer morning "the shining one" (the god, Lugh) walks between the
stones.
avenues leading towards it, one of which with 2 rows of stone. The stones here are slender and tall.
Every 18.61 years, a major lunar standstill occurs and the circle is in alignment with this effect. The
moon appears to pass within the stones during this time. If a person stands on a rocky hillock at the
higher south end of the site, the moon is dramatically "reborn" with a person silhouetted within it.
The stones tower to a height of nearly 13 feet high and the main monument covers an area around
3 square miles. The circle itself comprises 13 upright stones with a huge megalith at the centre marking
a later burial cairn. Callanish is different though The stone settings that run away from the circle in the
form of a cross and the presence of at least six other stone circles in the vicinity.
Local folklore says that on midsummer morning "the shining one" (the god, Lugh) walks between the
stones.
Locations in Ireland - Republic of Ireland
Tara - also known as Temhair in Irish, was the seat of political power as well as a sacred site. It was one of
the entrances to the otherworld. The earliest part of the site dates to the neolithic era with the Mound of
Hostages, which is aligned for both Samhain and Imbolc. There are over 30 visible monuments, and many
more sites unseen. Just recently a large temple was discovered. This is also the site of the Stone of
Destiny
the entrances to the otherworld. The earliest part of the site dates to the neolithic era with the Mound of
Hostages, which is aligned for both Samhain and Imbolc. There are over 30 visible monuments, and many
more sites unseen. Just recently a large temple was discovered. This is also the site of the Stone of
Destiny
| Image of Tara from mythicalireland.com |
Locations in Ireland - Northern Ireland
Newgrange, Dowth, and Knowth
These Irish Neolithic sites are situated near each other and share some common traits. They have all been
positioned on top of hills in the Boyne valley, to make them stand out even more against the landscape and are
the largest examples of circular cairn tombs each at about 280 feet in diameter.
If you want additional information about these sites, I recommend checking out www.knowth.com
Newgrange
The monument at Newgrange, in County Meath Ireland, is an incredible Neolithic site. By later in the
Neolithic period it looks like the site had stopped being used for ceremonial purposes, because we have
evidence of more domestic life during that time. It looks like this coincided with the collapse of the southern
side of the monument. On this page though, I'm going to focus on Newgrange at its zenith.
Newgrange has a vertical retaining wall about 10 feet high. On its north side, Newgrange is built of ordinary
stones. On it's south side, which is the entrance, Newgrange's retaining walls were built of gleaming white
quartz and grey granite boulders. Surrounding the whole site is stone circle in addition to a series of 97
stones (kerbstones) outlining Newgrange and a highly decorated entrance stone with triple spirals and other
traditional motifs. Interior stones contain these patterns along with zig-zags and triangles.
The entrance to Newgrange is on the South East site and is aligned with the Winter Solstice sunrise and just
above it is a structure called the roof-box. The rays of the sun pass through slits in the roof-box and hits the
basin stone on the other side and lighting up the whole tomb. If you check online, I have seen sites which
give live broadcasts of the sunrise.
Images I have seen on some of the kerbstones seem quite vulvic. This correlates Newgrange's association
with the Irish god of love, Oenghus.
Technically Newgrange is a passage tomb, due to the central passage leading from the entrance which
leads to a room with 2 side alcoves. The resulting shape of the plan is called cruciform.
In Newgrange, archaeologists found bones from 4 people which had evidence of cremation and 2 who were
buried unburnt but it is presumed that there were originally more bodies there. They also found hammer
shaped pendants as well as chalk marbles. Interestingly enough, none of the grave goods related to
everyday uses.
In mythology, Newgrange is used as a palace or great dining hall of the gods and has been called the Bru
na Boinne. It is described as having 3 fruit trees which were always bearing fruit and a cauldron with a
perpetual supply of food.
However, I believe the original use was really funerary and not just because of the bodies interred there. It is
aligned with the mid-winter sunrise, the day that reverses the shortening days. The alignment reinforces the
cycle of birth/rebirth.
Dowth
The monument at Dowth is a circular passage tomb and its entrance faces Newgrange.
One of the 2 chambers inside Dowth is aligned with the setting sun on the Winter Solstice. Interestingly, the
passage and chamber at Dowth are smaller than Newgrange, but the light shaft at the Solstice is much larger.
The other chamber is also aligned with sunsets, but on the 2 cross-quarter days around Samhain and
Imbolc.
This site appears in ancient literature as Dubad (or darkness).
Knowth
Knowth is a large, oval (but very round) passage tomb, with a cruciform layout. Actually, there seems to be 2
passage tombs located within Knowth; one is eastern while the other is western. These passages are twice
the size of Newgrange. The site is surrounded by kerbstones, much like Newgrange.
Knowth is also surrounded by 17 small, round satellite passage tombs. These smaller tombs' entrances
mostly face the Knowth monument.
The kerbstone on the western entrance to Knowth has vertical lines inscribed, which parallels Newgrange. It
appears to be aligned with the Autumnal Equinox. In the passage, where the light penetrates on the
equinox, lied a stone basin and an engraved sillstone.
There are several stones which seem to have lunar calendars and other time measurements.
Within Knowth, archaeologists have found numerous bone and antler pins.
This site appears in ancient literature as Cnogba.
These Irish Neolithic sites are situated near each other and share some common traits. They have all been
positioned on top of hills in the Boyne valley, to make them stand out even more against the landscape and are
the largest examples of circular cairn tombs each at about 280 feet in diameter.
If you want additional information about these sites, I recommend checking out www.knowth.com
Newgrange
The monument at Newgrange, in County Meath Ireland, is an incredible Neolithic site. By later in the
Neolithic period it looks like the site had stopped being used for ceremonial purposes, because we have
evidence of more domestic life during that time. It looks like this coincided with the collapse of the southern
side of the monument. On this page though, I'm going to focus on Newgrange at its zenith.
Newgrange has a vertical retaining wall about 10 feet high. On its north side, Newgrange is built of ordinary
stones. On it's south side, which is the entrance, Newgrange's retaining walls were built of gleaming white
quartz and grey granite boulders. Surrounding the whole site is stone circle in addition to a series of 97
stones (kerbstones) outlining Newgrange and a highly decorated entrance stone with triple spirals and other
traditional motifs. Interior stones contain these patterns along with zig-zags and triangles.
The entrance to Newgrange is on the South East site and is aligned with the Winter Solstice sunrise and just
above it is a structure called the roof-box. The rays of the sun pass through slits in the roof-box and hits the
basin stone on the other side and lighting up the whole tomb. If you check online, I have seen sites which
give live broadcasts of the sunrise.
Images I have seen on some of the kerbstones seem quite vulvic. This correlates Newgrange's association
with the Irish god of love, Oenghus.
Technically Newgrange is a passage tomb, due to the central passage leading from the entrance which
leads to a room with 2 side alcoves. The resulting shape of the plan is called cruciform.
In Newgrange, archaeologists found bones from 4 people which had evidence of cremation and 2 who were
buried unburnt but it is presumed that there were originally more bodies there. They also found hammer
shaped pendants as well as chalk marbles. Interestingly enough, none of the grave goods related to
everyday uses.
In mythology, Newgrange is used as a palace or great dining hall of the gods and has been called the Bru
na Boinne. It is described as having 3 fruit trees which were always bearing fruit and a cauldron with a
perpetual supply of food.
However, I believe the original use was really funerary and not just because of the bodies interred there. It is
aligned with the mid-winter sunrise, the day that reverses the shortening days. The alignment reinforces the
cycle of birth/rebirth.
Dowth
The monument at Dowth is a circular passage tomb and its entrance faces Newgrange.
One of the 2 chambers inside Dowth is aligned with the setting sun on the Winter Solstice. Interestingly, the
passage and chamber at Dowth are smaller than Newgrange, but the light shaft at the Solstice is much larger.
The other chamber is also aligned with sunsets, but on the 2 cross-quarter days around Samhain and
Imbolc.
This site appears in ancient literature as Dubad (or darkness).
Knowth
Knowth is a large, oval (but very round) passage tomb, with a cruciform layout. Actually, there seems to be 2
passage tombs located within Knowth; one is eastern while the other is western. These passages are twice
the size of Newgrange. The site is surrounded by kerbstones, much like Newgrange.
Knowth is also surrounded by 17 small, round satellite passage tombs. These smaller tombs' entrances
mostly face the Knowth monument.
The kerbstone on the western entrance to Knowth has vertical lines inscribed, which parallels Newgrange. It
appears to be aligned with the Autumnal Equinox. In the passage, where the light penetrates on the
equinox, lied a stone basin and an engraved sillstone.
There are several stones which seem to have lunar calendars and other time measurements.
Within Knowth, archaeologists have found numerous bone and antler pins.
This site appears in ancient literature as Cnogba.
| Image of the exterior of Newgrange with standing stones. Image courtesy of www.knowth.com |
| Solar imagery of Dowth from www.knowth.com |
| Image of the mound of Knowth courtesy of www.knowth.com |
| Image from the interior of Newgrange. Image from www.knowth.com |
Ballochroy Stone Row, North Kintyre: this stone row overlooks the Sound of Jura, and is aligned
not only with the summer solstice but with peaks on the mountains of the island of Jura. Built
around 1800 BC, the solstice sunrise can be followed looking at the stones and the mountains in
alignment, and if you stand in a specific spot for the sunset at that time, you can see a "green flash" .
Looking at the row and viewing Cara Island to the South West, it is also aligned with the winter
soltice. however, this alignment is not as reliable at the summer one.
not only with the summer solstice but with peaks on the mountains of the island of Jura. Built
around 1800 BC, the solstice sunrise can be followed looking at the stones and the mountains in
alignment, and if you stand in a specific spot for the sunset at that time, you can see a "green flash" .
Looking at the row and viewing Cara Island to the South West, it is also aligned with the winter
soltice. however, this alignment is not as reliable at the summer one.
Copyright © Clive Ruggles,
University of Leicester.
University of Leicester.
