Archaeoastronomer Paul Griffin suggests carvings inside Knowth's Cairn L (Ireland, ~4500–3000 BC) depict a solar eclipse from November 30, 3340 BCE — the only match out of 92 eclipses tested. If confirmed, it'd outdate Babylonian and Chinese eclipse records significantly. But archaeologist Frank Prendergast found no clear solar alignment in 2013, and his cautious reading remains mainstream. Unproven, not disproven. 🔭
Griffin claims Neolithic eclipse record carved on Knowth passage tomb Cairn L
Irelandunverified
Key facts
- Archaeoastronomer Paul Griffin argued carvings inside the Knowth passage tomb Cairn L depict a specific eclipse dated November 30, 3340 BCE
- The proposed date was the only candidate out of 92 eclipses checked that fits the carved pattern
- If correct, the record would predate Babylonian and Chinese eclipse traditions by a wide margin and push the tradition into the Neolithic
- Archaeologist Frank Prendergast examined some of the carvings in 2013 and found no clear solar alignment and no basis for reading celestial intent into the design
- Prendergast's reading represents the more cautious mainstream interpretation
- Griffin's claim has not been disproven but remains unconfirmed
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