Compare and contrast the megal

            Essay title: Compare and contrast the megalithic art at Loughcrew with that in the Boyne Valley. Taking into account the location of both complexes in the Irish landscape and your knowledge of the Neolithic in both places, explore some potential reasons for the similarities and differences that you have identified.
             When studying megalithic art in Ireland one factor can be noted, the sites of the Boyne Valley and Loughcrew are two of the most major cemeteries in Ireland. The Boyne Valley is believed to be the most important of all. Evidence and analysis on the artwork of megalithic artwork all over Ireland show us that only 30% of all decorated stones in Ireland lie outside of the Boyne region (O"Sullivan, 1997, 19). This gives an individual some insight into the enormous amount of megalithic art found in the Boyne Valley and its key importance in Ireland. In this essay I shall discuss the comparisons and contrasts evident between these two sites, Boyne Valley and Loughcrew and also I shall take into account their placement within the landscape, the style and technique of the artwork and also the influences of the Neolithic way of life on the megalithic artwork experienced in the Boyne Valley and at Loughcrew. I shall also approach the subject of the role of ritual and symbolic belief of the Neolithic people and its importance in the construction passage graves such as Newgrange and also its megalithic artistic style. The term "megalithic art" is defined by Eogan as being "a form of art, consisting almost exclusively of geometric and non - representational forms that are found on passage tombs in Western Europe (Eogan, 1999, 416). .
             The location of both Loughcrew and the Boyne Valley is of quite significance when studying these areas and their role in Neolithic .
             society. When looking at Loughcrew, the area is situated about two miles east of the town of Oldcastle at the western end of Meath, .