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Loughcrew
Location
Ireland.
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Description - Loughcrew is a collection of passage mounds spread across two adjoining hill-tops. Unfortunately, it seems as though much of the site was lost, as the were probably once as many as 50 passage mounds on the site (1). The site is well worth visiting as if not just for the view. Although the main mound is closed, there are still plenty of open mounds to explore, with engravings of spirals etc on nearly every one.
Chronology -
There is as yet, no radio-carbon dating of Loughcrew, but it has been observed that the rock graving techniques appear to be more primitive than at the Boyne Valley complex, suggesting an earlier date.Archaeo-astronomy -
Martin Brennan's excellent research concerning the orientation of numerous Irish sites, revealed the importance of astronomy to the builders. It seems that all the passage mounds had orientations to important parts of the solar and lunar cycles, and he suggested that they worked together to foretell the coming equinoxes, solstices, quarter-days and lunar maximum and minimum standstills. The following observations were recorded by Brennan (1)Cairn T - Orientated to the Spring Equinox.
Cairn L - Sunlight from the 8th Nov and 4th Feb cross-days enters the chamber and illuminates the top of a standing stone inside the chamber.
References:
1) M. Brennan,
The Stones of Time, 1994, Inner Traditions.