Introduction to New Granci

New Granci is a regional relic of Boyne Palace in Misher County in the Neolithic Age. The name is quite modern, and it comes from the "new" farm of the monks in the Meryl Fong monastery near Drogheda, 8 miles (14 km) north. Although the monastery was closed in A.D. 1539, the connection between this land and the monks' "new farm" continued. New Granci was built in 3200 BC. Before the pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge, it was a part of one of the most famous and important stone groups in Europe. There are 37 tombs in the Brunaboine Valley, located at the corner of the Boine River, including two other huge buildings similar to New Granci: Knowth and Dowth. The new Granci Monument is 249 feet (76 meters) wide and 39 feet (65,438+02 meters) high, covering an acre (4,500 square meters). The entrance leads to a 62-foot (19 m) passage and a central room. There are three grooves (sometimes called "rooms") on the wall, with intervals corresponding to the north, west and south. Excavation found human cremation remains in the western depression.

Although New Granci was originally defined as a passage tomb, it has recently been regarded as a monument, and its purpose, including burying the dead, is much more important and common. Every year from June 5438+February 2 1 winter to the days around, the rising sun will illuminate the internal passages through the roof box above the entrance, especially the west trough behind the central room. 1967 65438+February 2 1 day, archaeologist Michael J. O 'Kelly was the first person to observe this event in modern times. Re-evaluate that New Granci is a monument, not a grave in a strict sense. This monument is properly called "stone pile", which is an artificial stone pile, including water-rolled gravel. New Granci is listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO.

Building a New Granci

The tombs and monuments of Brunaboin were built between 3300 BC and 2800 BC. Before that, there was an old structure on the site. In the early stage of the construction of new Granci, it was demolished and its stones were used. Among the four types of megalithic tombs defined by archaeologists-palace tomb, city gate tomb, passage tomb and wedge tomb-only the passage tomb was built in Brunabin. In this regard, historians George Eogan and Peigin Doyle wrote: "The builders of the passage tombs represent a tradition different from the construction of portals and palace tombs. This tradition first developed along the west coast of Europe, especially the Iberian Peninsula and Brittany, and then spread to Britain and Ireland "(10). This is particularly interesting, because it is believed that the Celts first arrived in Ireland from the Iberian Peninsula in 500-300 BC, long after the founding of New Granci. This led some people to think that Celtic was much earlier than expected, but it can also be explained by non-Celtics from the same area.

There must be a stable community in the area to build these huge buildings. They are skilled masons and have considerable wealth, so they can spare time to build big tombstones and monuments after making a living. Eogan and Doyle wrote:

Need a wide range of support resources: wooden rollers to move boulders. .. rope to fix them; Ships or timber transport stones from the source (usually far away) to the construction site. Because tombs are usually built in high places, many big stones have to be brought to the mountains (1 1).

The stones used in the New Granci were shipped from wicklow Mountain in wicklow County-70 miles south (1 13.9 km) and Slif Querub Mountain in Tangxian County-67 miles north (107 km). Stones were also brought from Maune Mountain, 59 miles (94 kilometers) north of the site, while gravel was mined from a local pit now full of water, which is called a figure-eight pond. Builders must find stones from distant mountains, then remove them, probably through the Irish Sea, and then transport them inland to Brunaboin. Obviously, all these require a lot of time and energy. Michael J. O'Kelly pointed out that there are 97 kerbs in New Granci, "all of which weigh less than one ton, and some are much heavier", among which "about 200 kerbs,

All structural plates have not been excavated, and they all show geological weathering surfaces, unless the plates are deliberately trimmed [decorated, such as whirlpool or other designs]. Their weathering condition and some visible stripes on the surface indicate that they were collected from abandoned places at the end of the ice age. Imagine how difficult it is to find so many suitable stone slabs, because they must be covered by bushes and forests and taken to the construction site, mainly uphill, because New Granci is located at the top of the ridge (116-117).

O'Kelly imagined a worker divided into six groups, some carrying gravel, some looking for slate, some carrying slate, and some putting slate away. When this great monument was built, perhaps all this did not help erect the bright white timely surface that was restored on the monument today. However, O'Kelly said that all this was pure speculation, and he wrote: "Don't think the above is just speculation, because we hardly know the lifestyle and habits of the builders" (1 18). Without any form of written record, it is impossible to determine how this monument was built, why it was built, or what its purpose is. To be sure, it took people in this area at least 30 years to build the new Granci.

Legend and discovery

For some reason, this monument was abandoned in the early Iron Age of Ireland (3rd century BC) after the arrival of Celts. In the next 2000 years, there were no sacrificial activities in this area, and these fields were used by farmers, such as monks in Meilifeng Temple. However, the public's memory of the importance of the ceremony at this site is strong, as evidenced by the monuments mentioned in Irish legends and myths. In spiritual folklore, it is said that Tuhaddanan (the child of the goddess Dana) founded the New Granci, which is either the tomb of their leader Dagda, the son of his Brugh and Oengus, or the father of the long-armed hero Kuchulan, or Lugh for short. Kuchulin is also thought to have been conceived there. At that time, Ruger visited the girl Dechedin in her dream, and she slept there. This place is full of magical features, which can continuously produce food and drinks (especially malt liquor), including two pigs, one of whom is alive, and the other is dressed, cooked and ready to eat. In the famous Irish legend "Chasing Dilmud and Glen", Ayers took Dilmud's body to Brunaboin for burial after the hero died. It is said that the supreme king of Ireland, who was crowned in Tara, was buried there until Neil in the Uighur era (about 800 AD).

Because Gaelic, literature and legends were suppressed or almost lost under British rule, the website was forgotten. The Norman invasion in 1 169 brought the British to Ireland, and their control over national life was steadily strengthened through oppressive measures until it was broken by Irish patriots in the early 20th century, which led to the establishment of the Republic of Ireland in Ireland. 1920s。 However, long before the arrival of the British, the ritual activities in these places slowed down and then stopped, which may be because after St. Patrick preached in the 5th century, Christian rituals replaced pagan rituals.

Before it was discovered in A.D. 1699, the mounds in New Granci, North and Doss and the surrounding tombs were forgotten. Michael O'Kelly described this event in his work "New Manor: Archaeology, Art and Legend":

The discovery of "caves" in New Granci originated from the demand for stones by Charles Campbell, the landlord at that time. Realizing that many such things could be found under the green turf of a prominent mound on his farm, he instructed his workers to take some away, thus finding the entrance to the grave. This was in the year 1699. Fortunately, Welsh scholar and antique dealer Edward Lloyd is visiting Ireland. Knowing this discovery, he came to New Granci and carefully recorded what happened at that time. Be seen and heard. He wrote to his friends, and all his four letters were preserved, all of which provided basically the same information. The date of the first letter is1699 65438+February 15. It can be inferred that this place named "Cave" was opened not long ago, and Lhwyd can obtain the first-hand information of its discovery. He described what he saw in the same precise terms he used in botany and other research.

Lhwyd was followed by Sir Thomas Molyneux of the University of Dublin, who made further observations and attracted others. These scholars don't believe that the New Granci Monument was built by Irish natives, because the general attitude of Britain towards Irish people is that they are rude savages and can't do this. New Granci was attributed to the vikings and even the Egyptians. Throughout the18th century, many antiquities visited the site and speculated on the origin and purpose of the mound. In the19th century, more scholars, including John o'donovan and the artist George petrie, made a more educational evaluation of New Granci. In A.D. 1882, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland * * * passed the Antiquities Protection Act to manage the historic sites and started the protection work.

Today's New Granci

It was not until A.D. 1962 that Michael J. O'Kelly began to excavate the site thoroughly until A.D. 1973. It is the excavation and restoration project in O'Kelly that led people to visit this monument today. 1993, CE Newgrange was designated as a world heritage by UNESCO, which is as famous as many Neolithic Keynes around the world (such as the best Meshove Tomb in Scotland or Gavrinis in Brittany, etc.). ). The website can be accessed through the Bru na Boinne Visitor Center, which provides guided tours. Every year, more than 200,000 people from all over the world visit New Granci, and those who wish to participate in the winter solstice sunrise are selected by lottery. The number of applicants (thousands) proves the enduring charm and mystery of the Great Monument of New Granci.