Exploring Newgrange

Exploring

by Liam Mac Uistín

Older that the Egyptian pyramids, older than Stonehenge, the tomb at Newgrange in County Meath, Ireland, is one of the oldest structures in the world. For 5,000 years it has housed the remains of a formidable Stone Age people, sheltering the spirits of the long dead from the outside world. Modern archaeological techniques have revealed much about the lives of our Stone Age ancestors, but questions about the tomb at Newgrange remain. Why did a group of Megalithic settlers spend years building a massive tomb? How did they move the huge boulders? What do the symbols inscribed on the stones mean? The author attempts to piece together the clues left behind by this extraordinary Stone Age civilization.

Genres: History

112 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Liam Mac Uistin is a well-known author and playwright. His versions of ancient Irish stories and legends have been published in the Irish language by An Gúm. His plays for stage, television and radio have been produced in many European countries and in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. His television play The Glory and the Dream won the Radio Telefís Éireann award.

His stage plays have been produced at the Abbey and Peacock theatres in Dublin. His stories and plays have received many literary awards.

Liam Mac Uistin is the author of The Táin, (O'Brien Press) a hugely popular book for the young reader on this great Celtic epic.

He lives in Dublin with his family.

Reviews

[linda murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a long book but after seeing something about this on tv I wanted to know more. Stonehenge had always intrigued me and this was a similar thing but never heard of it. Around 4000 BC prehistoric people migrated to Ireland and built giant mounds. Until recently no one realized that these mounds were not natural but were made by the prehistoric peoples for purposes that we think were to house their dead and to pay homage to the sun, however, there is no written record, and until the mounds were excavated and the tunnels and niches were discovered, no one realized that in many ways they resemble Stonehenge! I am now reading another book on Newgrange, and its two sister mounds Knowth and Dowth!

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exploring the monument/reconstruction by book is a great way to do it, since I will probably never get to experience it in person. I am Scots/Irish, and dream of going to Scotland and Ireland, one day, to find my heritage. I loved the book, but I would love the trip even more...

[shane enright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my normal read,nice change for me interesting book

[Sarah Waites · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have read to date on Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth.

[Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visiting here very soon. A great insight into the history and location. Would highly recommend before you visit, soak in the rich Irish history and gain knowledge on the subject.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, informative little guide that I picked up a few years ago at the Newgrange visitors center after visiting the mound. It truly is an amazing experience - one we almost didn't get. I'd purchased our tickets online ahead of time, yet when we got to the center the tour was to leave from, there was no record of us being registered. Luckily, the tour guide insisted to the check-in agent that we go, bless her heart. The reason the tour numbers are limited is because when you actually get to the monument, groups are restricted to 25 people in at a time.

This slim text is detailed and offers not only a look at Newgrange, but the surround mounds at Dowth and Knowth. It then gives readers a sense of life at that time, then through the ages to Celtic lore, and finally up to Newgrange today. It also includes information about other sites in the Boyne Valley, such as Monasterboice, which I found especially interesting, as we visited that monastery on this tour as well and saw Muireadach's Cross - the most beautiful and intricately carved high cross, hands down.

[Jonathan]

None

[Joshua Spotts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but very informative book.