World Heritage Photos

Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne - Dowth: The Bend of the Boyne is situated on the north bank of the River Boyne near the village of Donore in Ireland. Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne is dominated by three large passage tombs: Dowth, Newgrange and Knowth. Although as large as Newgrange and Knowth, Dowth is less well known. Dowth was constructed approx. 5000 years ago. There are two burial chambers in Dowth. The passages are shorter than those found at Newgrange and at Knowth, but the chambers are as large and contain some of the largest stones found in the Bend of the Boyne. The south passage is aligned to the setting sun of the Winter Solstice. During the winter solstice, and a few days before and after, the south passage and south chamber are illuminated by the setting sun. Dowth is surrounded by 115 kerbstones. About half of the stones are visible, 15 of the stones are carved with megalithic art. The passages and burial chambers of Dowth are closed to the public, but it is allowed to walk around the mound of Dowth. The archaeological ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1993. The Irish name was added in in 2013: Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne. World Heritage Art: Bend of the Boyne 

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   Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne: The Dowth passage tomb is about 5000 years old. The prehistoric mound was also used in the first century AD, one of the passages is connected with an Early Christian underground room. Dowth, together with Knowth and Newgrange, are the three most important passage tombs in Brú na Bóinne. Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne became a UNESCO World Heritage in 1993.

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   The Dowth prehistoric passage tomb at nightfall. Passage tombs were not just burial sites, they had a number of functions, such as important monuments in the landscape, territorial markers, centres of religious ceremonies, but above all they were meant to be the permanent houses for the bones and spirits of the ancestors. The passage tombs were meant to last forever. The Bend of the Boyne is the most sacred and most mythical landscape of Ireland.

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   Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne: The Dowth passage tomb was constructed about 5000 years ago. Brú na Bóinne is situated on the north bank of the River Boyne. The site is dominated by three large passage tombs: Dowth, Knowth, Newgrange. Dowth is the least well known of the three great tombs of the Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble, but it compares in size with Newgrange and Knowth. 

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   Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne: The Dowth passage tomb is surrounded at the base by a ring of 115 kerbstones, about half of the kerbstones are visible and only 15 stones are engraved with megalithic art. There are around 700 decorated stones at the Bend of the Boyne. The Brú na Bóinne - the Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne is the largest and most important site of megalithic art in Europe.

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   Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne: The crater on top of Dowth prehistoric passage tomb is the result of an extremely unprofessional excavation in 1847, there are a few surviving finds from this excavation, human and animal bones were also found in the burial chambers and also objects from Early Christian times. The Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne was added to the UNESCO World Heritage in List 1993. 

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   Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne: A tiny detail of an engraved kerbstone at the prehistoric passage tomb of Dowth. Dowth is surrounded by 115 kerbstones. The megalithic engravings at Dowth were sometimes hard to find. In the Bend of the Boyne, the most noteworthy kerbstone is marking the entrance at the Newgrange, this stone is engraved with megalithic spiral symbols. In the Bend of the Boyne, there are some 700 decorated stones.

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   Brú na Bóinne-Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne: There are two passages and two burial chambers in Dowth, they are shorter than those found at Knowth and at Newgrange, but the chambers are as large and contain some of the largest stones found in the Bend of the Boyne. The south passage is about 3.5 metres long. The passages and chambers of Dowth are closed to the public, but visitors are free to walk around the mound of Dowth.

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   Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne: The huge crater on top of the Dowth passage tomb, the aim of those who dug this trench was to find a central chamber. Two passages and two burial chambers were found. The crater on top of Dowth is the result of this excavation. The early Irish name for Dowth is 'Dubhadh', a darkness caused by an eclipse. Although as large as Newgrange and Knowth, the Dowth passage tomb is less well known.

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   Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne: The entrance into one of the passage and burial chambers of Dowth. A stone marks the entrance into the south passage, it is decorated with spiral and flowers-like art. The short south passage leads into an almost circular chamber. The north passage leads into a chamber in the form of a cross. The Dowth prehistoric passage tomb is about 90 metres in diameter and is about 15 metres high.

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    Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne: Grazing sheep close to the crater on top of the Dowth passage tomb. The south passage is aligned to the setting sun of the winter solstice. During the winter solstice, and a few days before and after, the south passage and chamber of Dowth are illuminated by the setting sun. There is no guided tour to Dowth, but it is free to walk around the mound. The passages and burial chambers are closed to the public.