Possible new sites discovered near Newgrange

ZeRoY · 11-07-2018 11:47am #1

Looks like the heatwave has uncovered possible new neolithic sites South-west of Newgrange!!

Mythical Ireland on Facebook posted this

I’m shaking with excitement as I write this….

Myself and Ken Williams of Shadows and Stone imaged some very substantial and previously unrecorded features in the fields near Newgrange this evening.

They look like giant henges or enclosures…

If these turn out to be substantial discoveries, then I would be nothing short of utterly elated, chuffed and excited.

We’re already discussing them with an archaeologist and to say he’s very excited is a huge understatement!

Meanwhile excavations near Newgrange are taking place in recent days but have nothing to do with this new discovery!
Irish Times

This phenomenon is frequent with dramatic drought event, something similar is happening in Wales and it is basically a great time to be sending drones and planes to survey the landscape for new features like this!

This one near Newgrange is particularly unsual as despite extensive radar / solar imagery done before, nothign of that shape was ever discovered, best was probably this feature:

OSI 1995 Ortho shows nothing at all (unsure if image is post heatwave of 1995):

DKIT PDF of the entire survey for Boyne Area: HERE

....... · 11-07-2018 11:49am

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Bonzo Delaney · 11-07-2018 10:48pm

Is the original image of stones burried under the soil or what causes the moisture difference

uck51js9zml2yt · 11-07-2018 10:49pm

My reading was that it was found in 2015. Current heatwave nothing to do with it!

ZeRoY · 11-07-2018 11:54pm

Wyatt Vast Accident wrote: »

My reading was that it was found in 2015. Current heatwave nothing to do with it!

My bad, the irishtimes article is about the excavations taking place near it but its something different totally!!

ZeRoY · 11-07-2018 11:56pm

Bonzo Delaney wrote: »

Is the original image of stones burried under the soil or what causes the moisture difference

So that is the idea yes, but what you see is grass greener at the spot where a structure is present underneath, trapping moisture.

....... · 12-07-2018 9:08am

This post has been deleted.

uck51js9zml2yt · 12-07-2018 1:26pm

ZeRoY wrote: »

My bad, the irishtimes article is about the excavations taking place near it but its something different totally!!

I'm badder

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/massive-unknown-henge-discovered-at-newgrange-thanks-to-drought-and-drone-37105154.html

slowburner · 12-07-2018 8:58pm

Bonzo Delaney wrote: »

Is the original image of stones burried under the soil or what causes the moisture difference

The darker areas indicate an area that retains more water than the surrounding area. This usually indicates a cut: something like a ditch or a pit. Plants (grass in this case) survive better because of the available moisture in the current conditions, and appear darker as a consequence. These are usually referred to as cropmarks.
By contrast, areas that contain a high concentration of stone etc. tend to do the opposite - they dry out more quickly relative to the surrounding vegetation. These are known as parch marks, and appear lighter in colour than the surrounding area - when viewed from the air.
Both kinds of marks are essential to recognising archaeological features in the landscape from aerial imagery.

slowburner · 12-07-2018 9:04pm

The 'new' Newgrange henge was identified this week by a regular contributor to this forum, Ken Williams.
Congratulations are due. This is not only an astonishing find, it is also a salutary lesson in the importance of recognising that these conditions might not be seen again for decades, having the intelligence to go out and have a look, and having the instinct to know where to look.

Standard Toaster · 12-07-2018 11:48pm

Amazing find, incredible it wasn't discovered before. Well done Ken.
Dusting off the drone tomorrow!

tuisginideach · 12-07-2018 11:50pm

Amazing, exciting, incredible!

Standard Toaster · 14-07-2018 1:38pm

More finds

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/further-extremely-significant-finds-made-at-newgrange-as-new-markings-emerge-37118185.html

Wibbs · 14-07-2018 2:13pm

slowburner wrote: »

The 'new' Newgrange henge was identified this week by a regular contributor to this forum, Ken Williams. Congratulations are due.

That they are.
Go Ken!

This is not only an astonishing find, it is also a salutary lesson in the importance of recognising that these conditions might not be seen again for decades, having the intelligence to go out and have a look, and having the instinct to know where to look.

One thing surprises me a little; namely why at least some of these features weren't spotted before, particularly in the much longer drought of 1976(there was another less severe one in the 90s). I suppose more people being informed and interested and the use of drones and the interwebs that helps spread information so rapidly has facilitated stuff like this. It's bloody brilliant either way.

Malayalam · 15-07-2018 12:13pm

So brilliant.

https://mythicalireland.com/MI/blog/ancient-sites/the-new-henge-of-newgrange-a-once-in-a-lifetime-discovery/

37073150_1343509355782766_7803256025443729408_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=82b4001eaf11b7336d7d2b729abd7b1d&oe=5BD85332

37073150_1343509355782766_7803256025443729408_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=82b4001eaf11b7336d7d2b729abd7b1d&oe=5BD85332

As far as I know there was a tendency to burn ceremonial structures, looks like post holes left behind - incredible diameters

tac foley · 16-07-2018 10:32am

TBH I am totally blown away by this. One can only hope that Ireland has the resources to benefit from these truly amazing finds.

tac

magicbastarder · 16-07-2018 1:35pm

new passage tomb found at dowth hall during dig:

https://twitter.com/DrCiaranMcDonn/status/1018827587752267776

tac foley · 16-07-2018 1:48pm

Is there any chance of this amazing news being posted on another site that is not 'Twitchface'?

TIA.

tac

jmcc · 16-07-2018 1:53pm

tac foley wrote: »

Is there any chance of this amazing news being posted on another site that is not 'Twitchface'?

TIA.

tac

https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2018/0716/979038-dowth-hall-meath-megalithic/

Regards...jmcc

tac foley · 16-07-2018 1:58pm

Thank you, Sir or Madame.

tac

baaba maal · 16-07-2018 10:22pm

Malayalam wrote: »

So brilliant.

https://mythicalireland.com/MI/blog/ancient-sites/the-new-henge-of-newgrange-a-once-in-a-lifetime-discovery/

As far as I know there was a tendency to burn ceremonial structures, looks like post holes left behind - incredible diameters

So, I don't do sums good, but is that another, another henge?
:eek:

Malayalam · 17-07-2018 10:29am

baaba maal wrote: »

So, I don't do sums good, but is that another, another henge?
:eek:

Don't know. We were wondering the same at the weekend while looking over the photos and articles...is it one new discovery (the double ringed one in middle) or is the other one at bottom also a new discovery?

Malayalam · 17-07-2018 7:00pm

Just to follow up re second circle, Mythical Ireland on their facebook page says...

''Some of you have been at pains to point out the second circle visible in some of my aerial images of the new discovery. This second circle is, in fact, a previously designated enclosure/henge which surrounds a passage-tomb, and is designated site LP2 in the 2010 INSTAR report.''

So, it is a previously known henge found in 2010.

Say my name · 17-07-2018 11:16pm

So what it is it we're really looking at here?

Is it like a recumbent stone circle dedicated to the moon?
I say like as it could have been made of timber.

But it's interesting that the features in the 3 circles all line up.

baaba maal · 19-07-2018 8:42pm

Malayalam wrote: »

Just to follow up re second circle, Mythical Ireland on their facebook page says...

''Some of you have been at pains to point out the second circle visible in some of my aerial images of the new discovery. This second circle is, in fact, a previously designated enclosure/henge which surrounds a passage-tomb, and is designated site LP2 in the 2010 INSTAR report.''

So, it is a previously known henge found in 2010.

Ah! So the linear feature in the middle of it may be an excavation trench I suppose.

Glebee · 29-10-2018 11:24am

Sorry to go off topic with this. Might go to Newgrange tomorrow but see that its a booked out online but a limited number of walk ins are available. Would I get in if we arrived at around 11:00am or is it a waste of time... Thanks

Bonzo Delaney · 30-10-2018 8:01am

Slightly off topic but related
I was browsing Google maps there the weekend and they've updated their maps from during the dry spell
Lots of oddities showing up from the location of old ditches/boundaries to circular formations similar to above.

Possible new sites discovered near Newgrange

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