Decorated stones, Cairn U, Carnbane East

The highly decorated, but exposed, surface of stone 14 at Cairn U, beside Cairn T at the summit of Carnbane East at Loug Cairn U has a circumference of 48.2 metres, and the passage is oriented to 108 degrees (18 degrees south of east). A plan passage and chamber of Cairn U is shown above right. Its plan is similar to that of Cairn L. Stone 8 is also impressive, but worn by the weather. The dot inside the circle, which is present in the centre of the concentric part-circles towards the top right of the stone, represents the sun, according to Brennan.This symbol for the sun persists to this day in astronomy. This cairn, like many of those at Loughcrew, appears not to have had a roof. The passage is extremely narrow, and its orientation does not seem to be toward any sunrise of calendrical significance, according to Jean McMann's measuremens, but some believe the passage to be oriented on Samhain and Imbolc sunrises (Nov/Feb Cross Quarter Day). I have not observed this event yet!

Brennan says Cairn U "is synchronized with Cairn L to indicate the cross-quarter days on 8 November and 4 Fe marking the beginning of winter and spring." Another small cairn, Cairn indicates cross-quarter days on 6 May and 8 August, marking the begin Summer and Autumn. Imagery on the back stone of Cairn U may repres rising sun, according to Brennan.

Click on the image on right to see a larger version. Much of the art at Loughcrew is exposed to the elements, and thus is fa difficult to see except under special lighting conditions.

On the right is a zig-zag pattern along the top of stone 14 at Cairn U. Stone 14 is located in the right-hand recess (northern recess) of the chamber. These zigzag patterns may well have been some sort of astronomical counting device. Some theories link the megalithic zigzags with a river, perhaps the Milky Way, the river of the sky. Cairn U is located immediately adjacent to the famous Cairn T. The cairns are lettered, seemingly from west to east. On Carnbane East are Cairns R1, R2, S, T, U, V and W.Click here to see another photo of this zigzag pattern, lit by flash. See the old version of this page.

Autumn Equinox at Loughcrew, September 2005

A crowd begins to gather at Cairn T before the time of sunrise. Dark clouds are an ominous sign . . .

This huge carved stone at the foot of Cairn T is known as the Hag's Chair.

Shadowy figures: Enduring a stiff southerly breeze, enthusiasts examine some of the stones at Loughcrew.

Stones in the grass . . . the remains of a small cairn, Site W, almost forgotten by time.

Yours truly, watching for any sign of a break in the clouds. 5.30am starts don't go down well when the sun doesn't make an appearance. My thanks to Richard Moore for releasing the shutter!

See more about Loughcrew here Excavation (and part destruction) of Dowth in 1849
An "excavation" of Dowth was carried out by the Royal Irish Academy in 1849. However, this excavation was, in effect, a plundering expedition which caused extensive damage to the prehistoric site. Explosives were even used to blast away some of the cairn material. The roofslabs of the northern passage were lifted, while the ceiling of Dowth South was blown off. There is a huge crater in the top of the mound as a result of this "excavation". The following commentary was published in the Drogheda Conservative newspaper on July 5th, 1856, and points out the unbelievable damage done by the RIA during their work at Dowth.

The land-marks of Irish history which give us a glimpse of the sublime days that are over are fast fading from the antiquarian's view. The sculptured cross, which withstood the winter tempests of twelve hundred years, is broken or placed as a headstone over some peasant's grave. The Clogtheach and Monastery are falling into shapeless masses, which a few pounds would have repaired; the Anglo Norman Keeps, and strongholds of our Chieftains share the same fate. With regret we must utter the words of Davis- "Who can look upon our shattered monuments of Jerpoint and Mellifont, and not think that a double barbarism, (that of the people and that of their oppressors) has been upon Ireland?

A veil of red cloud over the mound of Dowth at sunset. From this angle, looking from the east, Dowth looks relatively intact. From the western side, extensive damage is evident.

But what is our astonishment, when we see far dearer remains than even these torn, atom by atom, assunder by the committee of Antiquities of the Royal Irish Academy; the men we would have supposed, particularly bound to preserve Irish relics. Let us go to that picturesque valley, which we have no hesitation in saying, since the light which has recently been thrown upon Irish history, is the resting ground of Duagda, where by far the most extensive and celebrated of all Irish cemeteries stands; that denominated Brugh na Boinne, and there see what the preservers of antiquities have done, on that delightful spot called Netterville, beneath which the Boyne rolls sluggishly winding like a vast serpent, kissing listlessly, a beautiful enamelled margin; there, some years ago, stood quite perfect the ponderous cairn of the Tuatha Danann Kings (Dowth Moat), but we find that beatiful tumulus literally torn to pieces. Its stones barrowed out as if it were to facilitate the dissoluting propensities of road contractors.

Netterville Manor, the former home of the "trustees of the Netterville bequest" near Dowth.

This sepulchre of Boadan, the shepherd of Elcmar over Dubhad (Dowth) was rifled by the plundering Northmen A.D., 862. But the barbarian followers of Amlaff Imar, and Amsle although they rifled yet forbore destroying that pyramidal landmark of history and civilization, which the refined antiquarians of the nineteenth century ruthlessly pulled down. It is quite evident that this examination, and excavation, and despollation, was caused by mere curiosity; for who that is a lover of Ireland's antiquities would leave Dowth Moat as it now stands, after getting permission to excavate and upset it. I am informed by good authority, that the trustees of the Netterville bequest, when they permitted the works to be carried on, were under the impression that the stones which *o*med this interesting mound would be replaced in their original position, and that if they expected it would have been left in the disgraceful position it now stands in, they would never have allowed the Dublin antiquarians to disturb it. There is a legend told of an old piper, who entered this vast monument about a century ago, with a party of young men and women, on an exploring excursion. I suppose "Darby the Blast" was a bit of a virtuoso. Well, 'twas a fine summer's morning in the month of July, and Darby entered first playing his most sprightly tune, "the humours of Glynn" with variations. But poor Darby and his friends were doomed never to return, but the people heard from them, for the old piper was heard busily playing under ground at Stanleon, a hill on the opposite side of the river.- Probably that was Darby's last tune, for from that day to this he has never been heard of. The traveller must think what a pity it was that the demolishers of this great catacomb did not at their first examination when they entered its Kistvaens, share the fate of Darby and his companions. It is to be regretted that a society which has done so much good with the miserable pittance of 300 a year from Government, in collecting and preserving interesting national antiquities and filling the museum with choice collections, should be the destroyer of a gigantic relic of druidical times, a monument of our old nationality which speaks of power, arts and religion.

The crater left by the 1849 excavation is shown in the top of the mound in this aerial image.

It is not surprising that an Englishman, who a few years ago purchased an estate contiguous to this mound, destroying some of the colossean stones, one of which stood sixteen feet high forming a circle at Cloglea; the supposed remains of a greater pyramid than that at Newgrange, when he had such an example before him, as the ruins of Dowth Moat.While the governments of the continent of Europe watched over their antiquities, the relics of Ireland's past greatness were forgotten by its government though princely sums were granted to English museums.

Unfortunately the Irish are engrossed so much with political and religious controversy, that they used to exertion to preserve their antiquities. The Catholic clergy were long the only guardians which such relics had. An O'Halloran, a Walker, and a Vallencey, called attention and awoke a veneration for the remains of ancient Ireland and shed a dim light upon past science, learning, piety and religion; but it was reserved for a Petrie, and others, to diffuse that light in all its clearness and splendour - that brilliance, which it has now attained. We hope, with the warmest feelings and sympathy, for old Ireland, that such men will rescue this evidence of our former greatness from destruction. It is a debt not only due to the trustees of the late eccentric Lord Netterville but to the men of Ireland. There may be an excuse alleged that the funds of the Academy were not sufficient to enable the society to replace the Tumulus as it formerly stood, but those who love Ireland feel that they never should have disturbed a single stone until they were able to replace it in its former position. PAGES OF INTEREST Winter sunsets: the Winter Solstice event at Dowth as recorded by Anne-Marie Moroney. Inside Dowth: Dowth's southern and northern passages explored.

Dowth: Winter Sunsets, by Anne-Marie Moroney

Dowth, possibly the oldest of the three major tumuli in the Bend of the Boyne in county Meath, Ireland, shares a special solar celebration with neighbouring Newgrange during the winter solstice. From November to February the rays of the evening sun reach into the passsage and then the chamber of Dowth South. During the winter solstice the light of the low sun moves along the left side of the passage, then into the circular chamber, where three stones are lit up by the sun. The convex central stone reflects the sunlight in to a dark recess, lighting up the decorated stones there. The rays then recede slowly along the right side of the passage and after about two hours the sun withdraws from Dowth South.

The book gives a general description of the Dowth tumulus, celebrates the sunrise at the mound and then concentrates on the midwinter sunset in the souther passage. Dowth, Winter Sunsets is richly illustrated with original photography and drawings by the author. The photo (left) shows the front of kerbstone 51 in the early morning sun in February 1998.

Sunbeam on the left side of the Early afternoon sun beginning to southern passage, on the sillstone shine on the stones on the left side and on the floor of the chamber. of the passage. Early January 1998. January 1998.

Winter afternoon sun in the passage, on the sillstone and in the chamber of Dowth South. January 1998.

(Above): A sunbeam pouring into the passage and chamber in the early afternoon, January 1998. (Above right): Sunlight viewed from the floor of the circular

chamber. Picture taken after 3pm in Jan/Feb 2000. (Right): A broad sunbeam reaching along the floor of the chamber towards the base of C7, mid-January 1999.

Dowth South - Chamberstone 7 and the floor of the circular chamber illuminated by an afternoon sunbeam in Jan/Feb 1998.

Dowth South - On a mid afternoon in February 1998 the sun retreats along the right side of the passage at Dowth.

DOWTH, Winter Sunsets, by Anne-Marie Moroney, Flax Mill Publications, Drogheda, Ireland. ISBN 0-9533822-3-0, (1999, reprinted 2000). The book is available from: Anne-Marie Moroney, Kiplings, Begrath, Tullyallen, Drogheda, Co. Louth , Ireland. Email: annemariemoroney@eircom.ie Price: 5.00 + 1.00 for p&p.

(Above Left): Drawings on the back of Kerbstone 51 at Dowth. This stone is wedge-shaped. The photo was taken on a spring afternoon in natural light. (Above right): The entrance to the passage and chamber of Dowth South, taken shortly after sunrise in mid December 1998.

Pictures from Dowth's solstice-aligned southern passage

There are two known passages at the Dowth mound - both of which are located on the western side of the site. The short passage and circular chamber of Dowth south are stark in contrast to the long, narrow cruciform passages of Newgrange and Knowth.

But the southernmost passage at Dowth shares a common purpose with the Newgrange and Knowth passages - it also marks a significant astronomical and calendrical event. Every year at the Winter Solstice, the rising sun penetrates the long winding passageway at Newgrange and

illuminates the floor of the central chamber. On the evening of the same day, Winter Solstice, the chamber of Dowth south is beautifully illuminated by the setting sun. Mythical Ireland has had rare opportunities to gain access to the interior of Dowth south and photograph this remarkable astronomical clock, still working 5,000 years after its construction. GLOW OF SUNLIGHT A striking feature of Dowth's southern chamber is its circular shape, and its single recess. Passages atNewgrange and Knowth east are cruciform, as is the northern passage here at Dowth. The circular plan brings to mind Fourknocks, but even this site retains a cruciform shape with its three recesses. The photo on left shows the chamber illuminated by natural light from outside. FINE ART There is plenty of decoration in Dowth South, most notably on three of the chamber stones and in the recess. It is these chamber stones, and the central one in particular, which receive the beam of sunlight during the time ofWinter Solstice. During an 'exploration' of Dowth in 1847 by the Royal Irish Academy, a quantity of bones were found in the chamber, 'mixed with the clay and dust which had accumulated' according to George Coffey (1912).

LIGHT IN THE DARK Dowth south's single recess, located at right angles to the passage, seems strange at first. But it actually has a very unique significance to the Winter Solstice illumination. Normally the recess is pitch dark, and one needs a torch to see anything while inside. But around the time of Winter Solstice, when the sunlight penetrates the passage into the main chamber, an amazing event occurs, which eyewitnesses have claimed was intentional on the part of the builders. As the sunlight strikes the central chamber stones and bathes the whole scene in warm light, the glow is reflected into the recess, and it becomes noticably bright. Bright enough, in fact, for the carvings on the right-hand recess stone to be seen quite clearly. ASTRONOMICAL IMAGERY The recess carvings are shown in the top two photographs on the left. The top photo shows a series of circles, along with a large double concentric circle as well as a medium-sized spiral, which are carved along the top of the face of this stone (C12). The middle photo shows a stellar symbol, or a 'sunwheel', along with a leaf pattern. These appear on the bottom part of the stone, and the whole surface around these carvings has been heavily picked, as the photo shows. The sunwheel brings to mind the patterns on Kerbstone 51, the 'Stone of the Seven Suns'. The last photo in the above sequence shows some engravings in the lintel stone above the recess entrance. George Coffey, in a visit to Dowth in the autumn of 1896, discovered these markings and said they were a 'typical example of the ship-figure so frequently found on rock surfaces in Scandinavia'. Although the photo does not show the full extent of the carvings, part of which are covered by a more modern electric light fitting!!, many have contested that this design, along with one at Newgrange, do not resemble a ship plan at all.

Cup marks on a stone in the recess at Dowth South. This stone (C10) faces C12 which contains the beautiful sunwheel and other art shown above. Similar pages:

A general view of the recess of Dowth South. Stones shown are C10 (left), C11 (straight ahead at end of recess) and C12 (right).

Dowth North - this passage, with its astronomical symbolism, may have been aligned on cross-quarter day sunsets. Knowth West - spectacularly decorated passage. Knowth equinox - photos of sunlight entering Knowth West. Solstice Light - Winter Solstice sunrise, photos from inside Newgrange.

Inside Dowth North - The oldest cruciform passage

THE EERIE DARKNESS The chamber of Dowth North is an eerie place to be. Hidden from daylight, and sunken into the ground, it is cold, dark and claustrophobic. The modern electrical lights do not work, the chamber is currently only accessible through a 70-foot souterrain, and the passage orthostats lean together such that when you walk up the passage, you have to squeeze through the stones. It's a strange experience, to say the least. But Dowth North could be the oldest cruciform passage in the Brugh na Binne area, so it is well worth a visit. When he visited Dowth in the late 1890s, antiquarian George Coffey said the construction of this chamber was somewhat similar to Newgrange, but in the case of Dowth North, 'the roofing-flags are not corbelled, and, in general, less architectural enterprise is shown.' The plan of the chamber, as at Newgrange, is cruciform, but smaller, measuring 11 feet high, and about nine feet in diameter.

The passage is 27 feet long, and the entrance has been reconstructed in more modern times, so it is impossible to say what the original length of the passage was. It may have been roughly twice its current length, given the fact that the kerb of stones on this side of the Dowth mound is located in the next field. OLD PASSAGE, NEW PASSAGE! There are structures at Dowth North, which are joined together, but which are separated in date of construction by approximately 4,000 years. The Neolithic passage and chamber seem to be older in date than Newgrange, and possibly Knowth, due to the fact that the passage at Newgrange is more advanced, with water drainage techniques incorporated into its roof structure which were not found at Knowth. The entrance to the Neolithic passage. But the souterrain, which is a 'microlithic' construction of much smaller stones, probably dates to the latter part of the first century AD, and was built into the mound at Dowth, with its entrance

located some 25 metres or so from its terminus near the earlier neolithic passage. A plan of the souterrain is shown below.

A view of the passage at Dowth north, looking out from the chamber.

ASTRONOMICAL SYMBOLISM The interior of Dowth North seems to carry on the astronomical theme present on some of the great kerbstones outside the mound. The chamberstone C7 is particularly well decorated, featuring a number of stellar symbols, concentric circles, a small spiral, linear markings and other features such as small inverted V shapes. Martin Brennan had suggested that Dowth North may have been oriented towards sunset on the February and November cross-quarter days, but evidence from surveying carried out by archaeologists

confirms that this passage was, quite probably, aligned on the Minor Standstill setting Moon back in the Neolithic. See this page for more details. The astronomical theme was also picked up by George Coffey a century ago. Coffey noticed that many of the star/sun symbols at Dowth were repeated at Newgrange and Loughcrew. His drawing of some examples is shown below. It's a pity he could not have lived to see the great lunar symbolism so widespread on the stones at Knowth. A star symbol (top) and large basin (above).

THE ART OF ANCIENT DECORATION Although Dowth North does not have the same amount of art as the passages at Knowth, there are still a number of stones which are decorated. The most noticable of these is the spectacularly decorated chamberstone, C19, which is decorated with spirals, serpentine shapes, circles and other features, and features designs on both its front face, and its side face. George Coffey's drawings of this stone are presented below, along with his drawings of the various examples of art, including the star symbols, on chamberstone C7.

Coffey's drawings of chamberstones. The central drawing is of C19 (photographed above).

Coffey's drawing of the art features on chamberstone 7. The central image is photographed above. Similar pages: