Student Name:

Jarlath Lydon

Student Number:

G00279899

Programme:

DTE Year 2

Module Title:

Historic Architectural Design

Assignment Title:

Select a building of historic architectural or cultural significance. A

report will be written detailing the history of the specific buildings construction. Strong
reference must be made relating to:
o

Construction methods used

o The style of the building

o The significance of the building to the local area
o A diary of how the model was made

Submission Date:

18th January 2013

Lecturer:

Thomas Shepard

Table of Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................................2
Newgrange..........................................................................................................................2
Significance of the building to the local area..........................................................................3
Construction Methods..........................................................................................................4
The Style of the Building.....................................................................................................5
Conclusion........................................................................................................................12
A Diary of how the model was made.......................................................................................13
Bibliography......................................................................................................................17
Appendix 1 - Glossary of Architectural Terminology...........................................................18
Appendix 2 - Measurements obtained on visit to Newgrange...............................................19

Introduction
The aim of this project is to investigate and provide an insight into a monument of both
historic architectural and cultural significance; hence the author has chosen to focus his
attention on Newgrange, a megalithic tomb. Newgrange is the most notable of the megalithic
tombs in Ireland. In the following assignment the author will identify and discuss the
materials used to construct the tomb; in addition to the many artefacts which were discovered
at the site. Likewise, the significance of the monument will be illuminated. Various
illustrations in the form of photographs and site plans of the tomb are included to aid the
readers comprehension. A glossary of architectural terminology is included in the project to
explain unfamiliar descriptive terms (Appendix 1). A diary of the construction of the model
of Newgrange is presented.

Newgrange
Newgrange is a passage tomb that was built five thousand years ago (3200B.C) by a
Neolithic or Newstone age farming community. It is older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian
pyramids. It is suggested that Newgrange is of religious significance as it is aligned with the
ascending sun and on the winter solstice the sun light illuminates the chambers and
passageways. Newgrange is the most prominent monument of the Neolithic Bru Na Boinne
heritage site period, along with similar passage tomb mounds of Knowth and Dowth.
Similarities have been identified between Newgrange and other Neolithic monuments in
Western Europe for instance Maeshowe in Orkney, Scotland and the Bryn Celli Ddu in
Wales. Newgrange is located between Slane and Drogheda in Co. Meath at a loop on the
River Boyne, in the Boyne Valley.

Significance of the building to the local area

Archaeologists believe that Newgrange was of religious significance as either a place of
worship for the deceased "a cult of the dead" or for an astronomically based faith. Michael O
Kelly who headed an excavation at the site between 1962-1975 advocated that Newgrange
along with other Neolithic passage tombs constructed in Ireland displayed evidence of a
religion that venerated the dead as one of its core principles. However, Kelly believed that
this "cult of the dead" was merely one particular form of European Neolithic religion and that
other Megalithic monuments showed evidence of various religious beliefs which were solar
as opposed to death orientated. On the other hand, other disciplines of expertise provide
alternative interpretations of the possible functions of Newgrange which mainly focus on
astronomy, engineering, geometry and mythology. It is taught that the sun had a major
influence upon the religious beliefs of the Neolithic people, who created it. One such idea is
that the chamber was created for a ritualistic capturing of the sun on the winter solstice, as the
room fills with sun light for approximately 17minutes, which may have assisted the days start
to get longer. This argument was augmented by Knowth and Dowth and the Lough Crew
Cairns resulting in the interpretation of these monuments as calendrical or astronomical
devices.

Today access to Newgrange is via a guided tour which commences at the Bru Na Boinne
visitors centre in Donroe Co. Meath, where tourists are transported to the site. In order to
experience the phenomenon of the winter solstice from within Newgrange, a lottery system
exists at the visitors centre as only 100 visitors will be chosen to view the experience.
However, on every other day a light is used to demonstrate the winter solstices for visitors.

In 1993 Newgrange along with its neighbouring sites Knowth and Dowth were designated a
Heritage Site by UNESCO due to their immense cultural legacy .Newgrange is the most
visited archaeological monument in Ireland attracting an average 200,000 visitors annually.

Construction Methods
Newgrange is unique in that it contains a roof box directly above the main entrance where the
sunlight can enter to illuminate the chamber and passage way. Originally Newgrange was
encircled by a ring of 37 standing stones however, only twelve remain and it is believed that
they were placed there some 1000 years later in the Bronze Age.

In 1882 Newgrange was taken over by the state (United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, as known back then) under the Ancient Monument Protection Act and were the
responsibility of the Board of Public Works. Subsequently in 1890 conservation of the
monument began under the command of Thomas Newenham Deans as Newgrange had
experienced general deterioration over the years and was subject to vandalism. Throughout
the years many archaeologists performed excavation work at the site including Michael J
O'Kelly from (1962-1975) discovering its purpose and method of construction. After this
further restoration work took place. In addition, in the 1950's electric lighting was introduced
to the passage ways to enable visitors to view it more clearly. As part of the restoration of the
site the white quartzite stones and cobbles were implanted into a vertical steel reinforced
concrete wall surrounding the entrance of the monument.

Newgrange was rediscovered in 1699 by Charles Campbell the landowner at the time, his
labours stumbled upon the entrance to the tomb while gathering stones from the cairn. The
location of Newgrange is stepped in history legends indicate that the foundations of
Christianity were laid here. Meanwhile Old Bridge is located downstream two miles from
where the Battle of the Boyne took place in 1690.

Over a period of sixteen years, four hundred people constructed Newgrange by seizing from
their agricultural work, for two months after spring sowing (Waddell, 2000). As metal had
not been developed at this period all their tools were made from stone, wood, antler or bone.

The Style of the Building

Newgrange is a large circular mound comprising of a stone passageway and chambers inside.
The mound has a retaining wall at the front and is ringed by kerbstones engraved with
artwork. Newgrange stands 61 meters above sea level, overlooking the River Boyne on a one
acre site (Figure. 1). It is a kidney shaped mound with ninety seven kerbstones retaining its
base, some contain megalithic art decoration, which were created using a hammer and flint
point (Waddell, 2000).

Figure 1: Aerial view of Newgrange.

Kerbstones

Standing Stone

Entrance

Mound
Twelve standing stones form a non-concentric circle around the mound, but it is believed
there was organically thirty five. Most of the structural stone (grey wake) was collected from
the surface of the land where it was deposited by the ice age. After excavation, cairn stone
eight to ten meters wide were found outside the kerbstones, so originally it is believed that
6

the mound had been steep-sided and flat-topped, this was created by a three meter stone wall
which had been placed on top of the kerbstones (Waddell, 2000).

The mound was constructed of a mixture of stones and turves or sods. The roof was built of
slabs of stone. Burnt soil and sea sand was used to fill the gaps in the roof between the stone
to keep the passageway dry. As the rain water drains through the mound, it is prevented from
entering through the roof of the passage of the tomb, by grooves which had been made in the
roof. This indicates that the builders were aware of the need to redirect the water seepage
from the cairn to keep the passageway water proof. The stone passage chamber and roof of
Newgrange and the kerb stones were constructed without the use of mortar. An estimated two
hundred thousand tonnes of material was taken from the bed of the River Boyne
approximately, one kilometre away and was used to construct the mound; 450 slabs, some
over 5 tonnes in weight were also used to construct Newgrange (Figure 2) . Geological
analysis believe that most of the construction materials employed to build Newgrange were
littoral blocks gathered from the rocky beach at Clogher Head Co. Louth, approximately 20
kilometres north east. It is possible they were transported to the site by securing them to the
bottom of boats and at low tide travelling up the river Boyle. Likewise, the slab stones were
not quarried as they display signs of natural weathering indicating that they were collected
and move up hill to the Newgrange site.

Figure 2: Side view of the construction of Newgrange

End Cell

Side cells

Figure 3: Plan of passage way & chamber at Newgrange

The entrance to the tomb faces southeast, which was originally concealed by a large
rectangular slab. The overall length of the passage way is 24 meters and when approaching
the chamber the height of the passage way increases (Figure 3). The chamber is in the shape
of a crucifix and the roof which is 6 meters high is supported by the walls. Four basin stones
which are believed to have held burnt or un-burnt bones of four or five deceased individuals
were also found in the end and side cells of the chamber. Excavation work that was
undertaken in the 1960's and 1970s revealed stone beads, pendants, fragments of bone pins

and some small balls of polished stone including a conjoined pair. These according to
archologists were typical of the Neolithic Irish passage grave assemblases. Also 75 decorated
stones (orthostats) line the passage way (O Kelly, 2001).The remains of animals such as
bats, rabbits, dogs, sheep, goats and cattle were also discovered but it is believed they only
entered the chambers at a later date to die, as rabbits were only introduced to Ireland in the
13th century A.D. Newgrange possess many examples of abstract Neolithic rock art, carved
onto it to create decoration. The carvings comprise of circles, spirals, arcs, serpentine forms
and dot in circles and chevrons, lozenges, radials and parallel lines. They display different
skill levels and styles. The entrance stone to Newgrange is illuminated as the most decorated
and famous of the entire repertory of megalithic art work at Newgrange. Much speculation
exists among archaeologists as to the meaning of the decoration for instance in 1890's George
Coffey studies revealed that it was purely decorative. Meanwhile Michael J. O' Kelly who
headed an excavation between 1962-1975 indicated that the art work was symbolic as much
of the detailed art work was not visible, for instance the art work discovered on the
orthostatic slabs below ground level. Research has been conducted to discover how the art is
of significance to alignment and astronomy in the Boyne Valley region by an American
researcher Martin Brennan.

The lozenge is the most common motif found on the interior of Newgrange. One particular
orthostat along the passage way posses spirals, lozenges and zigzags and have been
interpreted as representing a face perhaps a God or Deity of some description.

10

Entrance to passage way

Roof box

Lentil

Figure 4: View at the entrance to the passageway, where the roof-box is above the lentil
Above the lentil at the entrance to the passage way is a stone built object referred to as the
roof box (see Figure 4). At dawn on the 21st of December every year the passage way and
its three chambers are illuminated for a period when the sunlight shines through the roof box.
The passage way is illuminated for seven days before and after the 21st of December each
year, but it is only on the 21st of December that the inner cell is illuminated provided weather
conditions are right (the sky is not overcast and there is sunshine) (Newgrange.com).

11

Figure 5: Illumination of chamber on the mid-winter solstices - 21st December

This illumination occurs on the mid-winter solstices, which is the shortest day of the year. It
also represents the turning point of winter and signals the start of regeneration of the country
side for the Neolithic or Newstone age farming community who constructed it. Figure 5
displays the light entering the tomb on the winter solstices (Flanagan, 2000). Today
Newgrange attracts many tourists and visitors due to its historic archectural legacy. Hence
enhancing the local economy. Astrominors indicate that at certain periods during its 19 year
cycle the moon shares the same declination and hence the same rising azimuth as the mid
winter sunrise. Ultimately there are times during the moon's cycle when the moon too may be
visible within Newgrange.

Archaeologists suggest that the construction of Newgrange was so sophisticated, with the
intension of maximising the accuracy and length of the light beam entering the chamber.

Conclusion
Newgrange is the most prominent megalitithic tomb located within Ireland. The materials
used to construct the tomb were discussed; in addition to the many artefacts which were
discovered at the site. In the course of doing this project the author recognised the importance
of this monument in the history of Ireland and the significance of maintaining and preserving
12

such sites as they are vital elements in Irish heritage. I sourced the materials in a local art
shop.
A Diary of how the Model of Newgrange was made:
In order to view the monument in person, the author travelled to Newgrange on the 18th
December 2012. There the author entered the monument to visualise the detailed
craftsmanship that was present on both the interior and exterior of Newgrange. While there a
guided tour of Newgrange was entertained along with a display of the winter solstices. The
author obtained detailed measurements of the exterior of Newgrange and the passage way. In
addition, to obtaining several photographs of the monument exterior only as interior
photography were not permitted.
PHOTOS TAKEN ON VISIT TO NEWGRANGE

FRONT OF MONUMENT

INTERNAL PASSAGE WAY

13

FRONT ENTERANCE

LATERAL VIEW OF MOUND

LATERAL VIEW OF MOUND

LATERAL VIEW OF MOUND

Then once I had the obtained the appropriate measurements I selecting an appropriate scale
and after making a few prototypes out of cardboard I settled on a scale of 1:200 that would fit
within the proportion of the base board. (Figure A).

14

Figure A: Plan of the shape of Newgrange.

As this scale of the Newgrange model best fitted within the proportions of the base board
(600 x 600). Then I transferred the shape of the monument from the cardboard onto the blue
styro-foam. Then I cut out the shape of the doorway and started to draw on the height of the
kerb stones and quartz wall. (Figure B).

Figure B: Marking & shaping of entrance, quartz wall & kerb stones on styro foam.
Next I started to shape the mound and I applied green paint to the foam under the grass in
case the blue colour of the foam would show through the grass. I also cut out the shape of the
15

roof box. I also applied white paint to the quartz stone wall and light grey to the kerb stones
and dark grey to the entrance stones to the Newgrange model. Figure C.

Figure C: Application of paint and grass to model.

Next I marked out the grass area, walkway and pit area. Figure D Below.

Figure D: Construction of landscaping.

I then applied the gravel to the walkway and the end embankment to the left. Figure E below.
16

Figure E: Construction of embankment.

Next I applied the grass over the embankment and to the surrounds as well as inserting the
standing stones. Figure G.

17

Figure G: Finished model of Newgrange.

18

Bibliography
English, R. (1991) History of Ireland, Dublin: Gill & Macmillan
Flanagan, L. (2000) Ancient Ireland: Life before the Celts. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan
Ltd.
hppt://Newgrange.com/accessed 28/12/12.
http://www.megalithicmonumentsofireland.com/COUNTIES/MEATH/Newgrange1_Pass
ageTomb.htmla accessed 28/12/12.

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/cultural-history-of-ireland/stone-age-art.htm accessed
03/01/13.
O Kelly, M. (2001) Early Ireland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Ltd.
Stout, G. & Stout, M. (2008) Newgrange, Cork: Cork University press.
Waddell, J. (2000) The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland. 2nd edn. Dublin: Colour
Books Ltd.

19

Appendix 1
Glossary of architectural terminology

Orthostats: Large stones

Cairn: Heap of stones
Sill: Ledge
Revetment: Stone facing that supports an embankment

20

Appendix 2
Measurements obtained on visit to New grange

Name
Diameter
height of kerb
stone
length of kerb
stones
height of wall
height of mound
height of door
width of door

Scale
Scale
measurement
Measurement (mm)
(200)
(mm)
81,000
200
405

1100

200

5.5

279
3000
12000
1500
1000

200
200
200
200
200

1.395
15
60
7.5
5

2500

200

12.5

1000

200

entrance stone
lenght

3000

200

15

entrance stone
thickness

1000

200

roof box set

back
width of roof
box

Stout & Stout (2008)

21