Amazing week for Newgrange continues as 'significant passage tomb' discovered
PAUL MURPHY
Archaeological discoveries in the Boyne Valley are like buses. You wait a long time for one - then three come all at once.
It was like that in the last week when the first first research excavations at Newgrange in more than 30 years started under the leadership of DCU medieval historian and archaeologist Dr Matthew Stout and his wife, Boyne Valley archaeologist Dr Geraldine Stout. Matthew Stout said that it may be another week before the team of 18 archaeolgiists uncover anything of real significance.
Then on Thursday of last week, the international media spotlight fell on Meath when historian and author Anthony Murphy, who has been recording and writing about the Boyne Valley for man 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.
Murphy said that the dry weather was crucial to revealing the henge's presence. "I have flown a drone over the Boyne Valley regularly and have never seen this", he said. Heritage Minister praised Murphy and Williams for their discovery and announced further discoveries after an aerial survey by her department.
Today Monday, archaeological research by the agri-technology company Devenish and UCD School of Archaeology unearthed a significant passage tomb cemetery beside Dowth Hall. The excavation has uncovered a new and significant passage tomb cemetery dating back some 5,500 years.
Meath County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Tom Kelly, who accompanied Minister Heather Humphreys to the Dowth site, told the Meath Chronicle: "The scale of these three discoveries is overwhelming. Truly, it makes Meath the heritage capital of Ireland. We have these wonderful announcements at Bru na Boinne but we also have the amazing Tara a short distance away. The media coverage internationally has been wonderful and of course we need the Government along with the county council to exploit these wonderful resources so that we can attract even more people into this beautiful county of ours."