Pre Christian Ireland - New Stone Age - Passage Tombs

Question 1

Where are passage tombs found?

Answer 1

Found in groups on elevated ground.

Question 2

What is the most know group of passage tombs in Ireland?

Answer 2

Knowth, dowth and newgrange in Bohne valley

Question 3

Describe the structure of a general passage tomb.

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

What is a kerbstone?

Answer 4

A slab of rock surrounding the bottom of the passage tomb

Question 5

What are the passage and the chambers covered by?

Answer 5

A mound of earth or small stones

Question 6

What do kerbstones usually have?

Answer 6

Decorative motifs

Question 7

Where is newgrange located?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

How many passage tombs are in boyne valley?

Answer 8

Around 40

Question 9

How do we know that the Neolithic people were highly organized?

Answer 9

The size and quality of the tombs

Question 10

Where else in the world can similar art and architecture be found?

Answer 10

Brittany, France, Wales

Question 11

When was newgrange constructed?

Answer 11

Around 3200 bc

Question 12

How big is the mound?

Answer 12

11m high

80m in diameter

Question 13

Where were the stone slabs from?

Answer 13

They were brought by boat around 20 km from Louth

Question 14

How long is it estimated that newgrange took to build?

Answer 14

30 years

Question 15

How long is the passage at newgrange?

Answer 15

19 m long. 21 upright stones on the right. 22 on the left

Question 16

What is the roof of the passage at newgrange made of?

Answer 16

Horizontal slabs

Question 17

What shape is the burial chamber?

Answer 17

Cruciform (Cross shaped)

Question 18

How big is the burial chamber at newgrange?

Answer 18

5.5 m in diameter

Question 19

How many chambers is in newgrange?

Answer 19

3 small chambers off the central chamber

Question 20

What is a stone basin?

Answer 20

A basin where the ashes and bones of the dead were, it was in the side chambers

Question 21

How was the roof of the chambers made?

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

How tall is the corbelled roof at newgrange?

Answer 22

6m above the chamber floor

Question 23

How is the roof water tights after more than 5000 years?

Answer 23

The builders cut grooves into the outer roof stones in order to channel rainwater away from the chamber

Question 24

What is the function of the passage tomb at newgrange?

Answer 24

Burial chamber - remains of dead found there
Place of worship of the dead, weather, seasons
Place of gathering for rituals

Question 25

What surrounds the mound at newgrange?

Answer 25

A quartz facade - it is reflective of the sun

Question 26

What are monoliths?

Answer 26

standing stones

Question 27

Where in newgrange are monoliths?

Answer 27

Circle of 12 in the field 15m away surrounding newgrange | Originally 35

Question 28

What are the two important kerbstones called and where are they?

Answer 28

The entrance stone and kerbstone 52 | They are diametrically opposite each other.

Question 29

What are kerbstones made from?

Answer 29

Granite

Question 30

How many kerbstones are there.

Answer 30

97

Question 31

What are the dimensions of kerbstones?

Answer 31

3 - 4 meters long | 1.5 meters high

Question 32

Where did the quartz come from?

Answer 32

Wicklow, 80km away. Brought by boat

Question 33

What is the roof box?

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

What date is newgrange aligned with?

Answer 34

21 December

Question 35

Describe how the entrance stone to newgrange is decorated.

Answer 35

Line separating the two sides down the center | lozenges, triskel, spirals, zig-zags, chevrons

Question 36

Describe how kerbstone 52 is decorated.

Answer 36

Pronounced vertical line down the center Double spirals Pocking Concentric circles

Question 37

Describe how the standing stone inside the chamber looking towards the passage is decorated.

Answer 37

Lozenges, triskel

Question 38

Describe the decoration On the lintel of the roofbox.

Answer 38

Triangles

Question 39

Describe the decoration of the corbelled stones in the burial chamber at newgrange.

Answer 39

Lozenges, zigzag, chevron