Dr. Muiris O’Sullivan

I mentioned earlier that there were a very large number of stones used in the Boyne Valley between all of the tombs there. But it would appear that Newgrange got the pick of the stones because the largest kerbstones, for example— They're also some of the finest stones as stones are to be found along the kerb at Newgrange.

I mentioned earlier that there were a very large number of stones used in the Boyne Valley between all of the tombs there. But it would appear that Newgrange got the pick of the stones because the largest kerbstones, for example— They're also some of the finest stones as stones are to be found along the kerb at Newgrange.

I mentioned earlier that there were a very large number of stones used in the Boyne Valley between all of the tombs there. But it would appear that Newgrange got the pick of the stones because the largest kerbstones, for example— They're also some of the finest stones as stones are to be found along the kerb at Newgrange.

Yeah, this circle of... They're at the base of the cairn, so to speak. They're... Some people said they're holding the cairn in, but I suspect their function was more ceremonial, defining the circular, more or less circular area within which the tomb was built and all of the main activity was taking place.

Yeah, this circle of... They're at the base of the cairn, so to speak. They're... Some people said they're holding the cairn in, but I suspect their function was more ceremonial, defining the circular, more or less circular area within which the tomb was built and all of the main activity was taking place.

Yeah, this circle of... They're at the base of the cairn, so to speak. They're... Some people said they're holding the cairn in, but I suspect their function was more ceremonial, defining the circular, more or less circular area within which the tomb was built and all of the main activity was taking place.

That brings you to another angle when you're speaking about, maybe I'm taking away actually, Tristan, so please pull me back. But when they were building these tombs, it began with the alignment of the tomb. And I think that's an important point to make.

That brings you to another angle when you're speaking about, maybe I'm taking away actually, Tristan, so please pull me back. But when they were building these tombs, it began with the alignment of the tomb. And I think that's an important point to make.

That brings you to another angle when you're speaking about, maybe I'm taking away actually, Tristan, so please pull me back. But when they were building these tombs, it began with the alignment of the tomb. And I think that's an important point to make.

Yeah, they had to know in advance the direction in which the passage was facing, because in the case of Newgrange, they were facing the passage towards the spot on the horizon where the sun would rise at midwinter.

Yeah, they had to know in advance the direction in which the passage was facing, because in the case of Newgrange, they were facing the passage towards the spot on the horizon where the sun would rise at midwinter.

Yeah, they had to know in advance the direction in which the passage was facing, because in the case of Newgrange, they were facing the passage towards the spot on the horizon where the sun would rise at midwinter.

Right.

Right.

Right.

It's assumed that the river was used as a way of moving them, and maybe the sea as well. But this is a precarious business with very large stones. And the other thing that I remember... Some years ago, some colleagues, they conducted a survey of the riverbed along the River Boyne because the assumption was if so many large stones were moved, somewhere along the way, one had to be lost.

It's assumed that the river was used as a way of moving them, and maybe the sea as well. But this is a precarious business with very large stones. And the other thing that I remember... Some years ago, some colleagues, they conducted a survey of the riverbed along the River Boyne because the assumption was if so many large stones were moved, somewhere along the way, one had to be lost.

It's assumed that the river was used as a way of moving them, and maybe the sea as well. But this is a precarious business with very large stones. And the other thing that I remember... Some years ago, some colleagues, they conducted a survey of the riverbed along the River Boyne because the assumption was if so many large stones were moved, somewhere along the way, one had to be lost.

Must be some shipwrecks. Or two or whatever. So they were checking if anything like that could be seen. What they found were actually a very large number of circular stones, which turned out to be tires. Wow. This is odd. There seems to have been nothing lost along the way.

Must be some shipwrecks. Or two or whatever. So they were checking if anything like that could be seen. What they found were actually a very large number of circular stones, which turned out to be tires. Wow. This is odd. There seems to have been nothing lost along the way.