Boyne Valley - New Discoveries at Newgrange ‘Unparalleled’

Newgrange, County Meath, Ireland

Newgrange, close to the headquarters of Rings from Ireland and which inspires many of its beautiful jewelry collections, has always been one of Ireland’s most important historic sites.

Now Ireland’s recent heatwave has seen archaeologists uncover even more ‘extremely significant’ sites at the world famous Brú na Bóinne prehistoric complex in County Meath, in what was described as “an amazing week for Newgrange”

The Unesco designated World Heritage location has seen a flurry of activity and has hit international headlines as a previously undiscovered circular enclosure was discovered in early July during a Government aerial survey.

Newgrange still holds many secrets and these new finds are helping historians to continue to uncover the magic that lies within this landscape.

Minister for Heritage, Josepha Madigan has described the finds across the River Boyne floodplain south of the Newgrange passage tomb as “simply unparalleled”.

Historian and author Anthony Murphy, who has been recording and writing about the Boyne Valley for many years, used a drone, along with his friend Ken Williams to reveal a large prehistoric enclosure close to the Newgrange passage tomb. The henge, which could measure up to 200m in diameter, is believed to have been built some 500 years after Newgrange which dates from 3,000BC.

It is thought that the finds date back to the Neolithic period around 5,500 years ago. Three large passage tombs – Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth currently attract visitors from all over the world and they contain the largest amount of megalithic art in western Europe.

The upcoming Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2018 which comes to Drogheda, County Louth for the first time ever and takes place from Sunday 12th to Sunday 19th August will shine a further spotlight on the area and add to visitor numbers.

Rings from Ireland is a proud ‘Friend of the Fleadh’, showcasing the best of Irish design and heritage around the world.

As the secrets of the Boyne Valley continue to be revealed, the area can truly be described as ‘the heritage capital of Ireland’.
Posted on July 31, 2018