New Grange, Ireland

Built in the Neolithic era, Newgrange is the central part of a passage grave cemetery. Carbon-dating of debris collected during excavation of the site dates its erection to about 3000 B.C. The tomb at Newgrange consists of a passage and chamber, the walls and roof of which are built of large slabs of stone without mortar. The mound itself is a non-concentric circular shape that is approximately 280 feet long at its widest diameter. On December 21, (the Winter Solstice), sunlight enters the roof box, streams up the passageway and bathes the chamber in light for about five hours. The ethereal light plays on the carvings, causing them to seem to move and dance across the stones while casting strange shadows within the three recesses. Later, of course, this week in December became tied to the birth of Jesus Christ.