Dr. Muiris O’Sullivan

In an excavation I conducted myself at Knock Row in County Kilkenny, there was one particular kerbstone that had split, you know, and the front half of it had fallen forward, rather like a kebab, you know, sort of. And the filling of the space between the front half of that kerbstone and the back half of it was all clean white quartz.

which suggested to me that the quartz also may have fallen from above somewhere. It couldn't jump up from the ground and jump into this space, so to speak. You know, something seems to have fallen from above. Now, that doesn't mean it was a vertical wall. I think that's the most controversial aspect of the new range reconstruction is that the wall is so high.

which suggested to me that the quartz also may have fallen from above somewhere. It couldn't jump up from the ground and jump into this space, so to speak. You know, something seems to have fallen from above. Now, that doesn't mean it was a vertical wall. I think that's the most controversial aspect of the new range reconstruction is that the wall is so high.

which suggested to me that the quartz also may have fallen from above somewhere. It couldn't jump up from the ground and jump into this space, so to speak. You know, something seems to have fallen from above. Now, that doesn't mean it was a vertical wall. I think that's the most controversial aspect of the new range reconstruction is that the wall is so high.

It's not quite vertical, but it's very close to being vertical. The suggestion would be that if there were some quartz on top of the kerbstones, it may not have been as sheer as that, so to speak.

It's not quite vertical, but it's very close to being vertical. The suggestion would be that if there were some quartz on top of the kerbstones, it may not have been as sheer as that, so to speak.

It's not quite vertical, but it's very close to being vertical. The suggestion would be that if there were some quartz on top of the kerbstones, it may not have been as sheer as that, so to speak.

Exactly. And an aspect of the Boyne Valley that maybe was understated in the past, but has become clearer in more recent times, that these massive henge-like monuments that were built in the valley below Newgrange, they would have involved a similar amount of labour and input of resources there. but in timber as the actual megalithic tombs had.

Exactly. And an aspect of the Boyne Valley that maybe was understated in the past, but has become clearer in more recent times, that these massive henge-like monuments that were built in the valley below Newgrange, they would have involved a similar amount of labour and input of resources there. but in timber as the actual megalithic tombs had.

Exactly. And an aspect of the Boyne Valley that maybe was understated in the past, but has become clearer in more recent times, that these massive henge-like monuments that were built in the valley below Newgrange, they would have involved a similar amount of labour and input of resources there. but in timber as the actual megalithic tombs had.

They were built perhaps somewhere, you know, maybe some hundreds of years after the megalithic tombs. But they do indicate, as you say, that this was a very sacred landscape with a lot of activity going on there. But then it runs out. Then it just dies after the beginning of the Bronze Age.

They were built perhaps somewhere, you know, maybe some hundreds of years after the megalithic tombs. But they do indicate, as you say, that this was a very sacred landscape with a lot of activity going on there. But then it runs out. Then it just dies after the beginning of the Bronze Age.

They were built perhaps somewhere, you know, maybe some hundreds of years after the megalithic tombs. But they do indicate, as you say, that this was a very sacred landscape with a lot of activity going on there. But then it runs out. Then it just dies after the beginning of the Bronze Age.

You know, when I say dies, that you have no more this massive input of activity and construction and so on in the Boyne Valley. And there seems to have been some sort of a lull through the Bronze Age in some ways, you know. But then in the early centuries A.D., for some reason, there's material from Roman Britain is placed in front of the tomb at Newgrange.

You know, when I say dies, that you have no more this massive input of activity and construction and so on in the Boyne Valley. And there seems to have been some sort of a lull through the Bronze Age in some ways, you know. But then in the early centuries A.D., for some reason, there's material from Roman Britain is placed in front of the tomb at Newgrange.

You know, when I say dies, that you have no more this massive input of activity and construction and so on in the Boyne Valley. And there seems to have been some sort of a lull through the Bronze Age in some ways, you know. But then in the early centuries A.D., for some reason, there's material from Roman Britain is placed in front of the tomb at Newgrange.

in the form of coins, gold coins, for about the 3rd or 4th century. I think the 3rd and 4th century, maybe. There's a pair of bronze brooches from, I think, the 3rd century. There were some neck ornaments and other things, you know, of gold. And this material that seems to have come from provincial, you know, the edge of the Roman Empire, Britain, presumed to be Britain.

in the form of coins, gold coins, for about the 3rd or 4th century. I think the 3rd and 4th century, maybe. There's a pair of bronze brooches from, I think, the 3rd century. There were some neck ornaments and other things, you know, of gold. And this material that seems to have come from provincial, you know, the edge of the Roman Empire, Britain, presumed to be Britain.

in the form of coins, gold coins, for about the 3rd or 4th century. I think the 3rd and 4th century, maybe. There's a pair of bronze brooches from, I think, the 3rd century. There were some neck ornaments and other things, you know, of gold. And this material that seems to have come from provincial, you know, the edge of the Roman Empire, Britain, presumed to be Britain.

And they're placed at those standing stones in front of the entrance to Newgrange, it would appear. So this seems to indicate some sort of a significance for the site. And it's part of an upsurge of activity that took place at these megalithic tombs during the later Iron Age. This is about between three and three and a half thousand years after they were actually built in the first place.