Dowth is a major Boyne passage tomb that remains partly excavated; 1840s antiquarians damaged it with dynamite. Martin Brennan first noted its southern passage accepts winter solstice sunset sunlight. The Stone of Seven Suns bears seven sun symbols, possibly representing eclipse imagery. Lunar standstill alignments are present! 🌓☀️
Dowth: Sister passage tomb with Stone of Seven Suns and lunar standstill alignments
IrelandArchaeoastronomy
Site mentioned
Key facts
- Dowth is the only major Boyne passage tomb not fully excavated in modern times; 1840s antiquarians damaged it with dynamite
- Martin Brennan and team discovered southern passage accepts winter solstice sunlight in 1980
- Stone of Seven Suns bears seven sun symbols possibly representing eclipse imagery
- Site has approximately 115 curbstones (half the number of synodic lunar months in one moon swing cycle)
- Southern passage accepts major standstill moonset; northern passage accepts minor standstill moonset
- Myth of King Brú na Bóinne: attempted to build tower to heaven, incest with sister stopped the sun causing darkness (interpreted as eclipse at summer solstice)
Sources
mythicalireland.com
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megalithomania.co.uk
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Dowth: The House of Darknesscarrowkeel.com
The great mound has suffered a lot of damage over the years from the various quarrying operations and rude excavations, one of which left the massive crater in ...
Dowth Passage Tomb | Brú na Bóinne, Boyne Valleyboynevalleydaytours.com
Dowth is one of Brú na Bóinne's three great passage tombs, with an unrestored mound, Seven Suns kerbstone art and a winter solstice sunset alignment.
Dowth Passage Tomb | Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Sitenewgrange.com
Dowth was unprofessionally excavated in 1847, which accounts for the crater in the centre of the mound. Two passage tombs were discovered on the western side.
Dowth in a Nutshell | 10 Key Facts - Boyne Valley Day Toursazfox.com
Dowth suffered extensive damage in later centuries, including large-scale stone robbing and unauthorized digging in the early modern and ...
Dowthen.wikipedia.org
The Royal Irish Academy carried out a botched excavation in 1847, leaving a large crater in the mound that has never been repaired. Dowth.
Dowth Passage Tomb at Brú na Bóinne, County Meathknowth.com
In 1847 the site was excavated in a poorly documented investigation that involved the use of dynamite. During this work the two passages, now known as Dowth ...
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