Some very happy family events meant that it was necessary to postpone our “Return to Japan + Korea” trip. But we decided that we’d squeeze in a short trip to someplace relatively nearby. We chose Ireland as our main destination and spent 11 days on the Emerald Isle.
From the west coast of Canada it’s impossible to fly directly to Ireland but we are able to get to London non-stop. So while recovering from jet lag we visited some sights in south-western England, chief among them Stonehenge (pictured below). When we got to Ireland a few days later, we also visited Newgrange, a neolithic era site that is older than Stonehenge (and the pyramids!) by about 700 years. It was an interesting trip! Scroll down for the links to all of our posts from England and Ireland.
We have followed the ancient Greek custom of consulting an oracle before a trip. See the bottom of this Page for our consultation for the famed 21st century oracle, ChatGPT.
Read our Posts about this trip:
Being a Tourist at Home
Ireland Added to Our List
Dublin, Our Final Stop in Ireland
Brú na Bóinne: Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth
Galway and the Cliffs of Moher
County Cork, Ireland
Sheep Dog Demo at Kissane Sheep Farm
Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
Salisbury, Stonehenge, and Winchester
Starting our England and Ireland Trip
Bring us back a parrot!
Our chat with the AI bot, ChatGPT:
Compare and contrast the sites of Newgrange and Stonehenge; their age, who built them, and the purpose that they served.
ChatGPT
Newgrange and Stonehenge are both ancient sites with significant historical and cultural importance, but they have notable differences in terms of age, construction, builders, and purpose.
- Age:
- Newgrange: Newgrange is estimated to be around 5,200 years old, making it older than Stonehenge.
- Stonehenge: Stonehenge is estimated to be around 4,500 years old, making it slightly younger than Newgrange.
- Builders:
- Newgrange: Newgrange was built by Neolithic people in what is now Ireland. They were likely a farming community.
- Stonehenge: Stonehenge was also built by Neolithic people, but in what is now England. The specific culture or community responsible for its construction is still debated among archaeologists.
- Construction:
- Newgrange: Newgrange is a passage tomb, characterized by its large circular mound and a passageway that leads to a central chamber. The exterior of the mound is made of large stones, while the interior chamber is constructed of smaller stones. The tomb is aligned with the winter solstice sunrise, allowing sunlight to illuminate the interior chamber during this time.
- Stonehenge: Stonehenge is a complex of standing stones, including large upright stones (sarsens) arranged in a circular pattern with lintel stones atop them, as well as smaller bluestones. The purpose and arrangement of Stonehenge have led archaeologists to believe it served various functions, including as an astronomical observatory, a religious site, and possibly a burial ground.
- Purpose:
- Newgrange: The purpose of Newgrange is believed to have been primarily as a burial site, although its alignment with the winter solstice sunrise suggests it may have had additional ceremonial or astronomical significance.
- Stonehenge: The purpose of Stonehenge is multifaceted and still somewhat enigmatic. It likely served as an astronomical observatory, with alignments that correspond to significant astronomical events such as the solstices. It may also have had religious or ceremonial significance, and evidence suggests it was used for burial rituals as well.
In summary, while both Newgrange and Stonehenge are ancient sites built by Neolithic people, they differ in age, construction style, builders, and likely purposes. Newgrange is a passage tomb primarily associated with burial rituals, while Stonehenge is a complex of standing stones with multiple possible functions, including as an astronomical observatory and religious site.
There was evidence of burials found at Newgrange, but has there been anything found to show that Stonehenge was also a burial site?
ChatGPT
Yes, evidence suggests that Stonehenge was used as a burial site, although it is not its sole or primary function. Archaeological excavations at Stonehenge and its surrounding landscape have revealed numerous burial mounds, known as barrows, dating from the same Neolithic and Bronze Age periods as Stonehenge itself.
- Aubrey Holes: In the 1920s, during excavations led by William Hawley, cremated human remains were discovered in some of the small pits known as Aubrey Holes, which encircle the Stonehenge monument. While the purpose of these holes is still debated, their association with human remains suggests a possible burial function.
- Cursus Barrows: Nearby to Stonehenge is a large ceremonial avenue known as the Cursus, which is associated with several burial mounds. These mounds contained cremated human remains, indicating a burial function for the area.
- The Amesbury Archer: One of the most famous burials associated with Stonehenge is that of the Amesbury Archer, found around 3 km from the monument. This burial dates to around 2300 BCE and contained the remains of a man along with numerous grave goods, including gold ornaments, copper objects, and arrowheads. The presence of this burial emphasizes the significance of the area as a burial ground during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods.
While Stonehenge’s primary function remains subject to debate, the presence of burials in its vicinity suggests that it likely played a role in burial rituals and ceremonies for the communities living in the area during prehistoric times.
The alignment of Newgrange to capture the light of the winter solstice is well known, but isn’t the suggestion that Stonehenge was an astronomical observatory speculative?
ChatGPT
You’re correct that the suggestion that Stonehenge was primarily an astronomical observatory is speculative and subject to ongoing debate among archaeologists and historians. While there is evidence to support the idea that Stonehenge had astronomical alignments, such as its orientation towards the sunrise on the summer solstice and the sunset on the winter solstice, the precise purpose and significance of these alignments are not fully understood.
Some scholars argue that Stonehenge’s astronomical alignments were indeed intentional and that the site served as a calendar or observatory for tracking celestial events important to the agricultural calendar, such as the solstices and equinoxes. Others suggest that the alignments may have had religious or ceremonial significance, with the movements of the sun and moon being interpreted in a symbolic or ritualistic context.
Additionally, recent research has proposed that Stonehenge may have been a place of healing, pilgrimage, or ancestor worship, with the stones serving as a conduit for spiritual or supernatural experiences.
Ultimately, while the astronomical interpretations of Stonehenge are intriguing and supported by some evidence, they are not universally accepted, and the true purpose of the monument remains a subject of scholarly inquiry and debate.