Two of the biggest research issues in Ireland are that of the megalithic stone monuments and for what purpose they were built and also who were the first settlers in Ireland and where did they live. I"ll explore both of those issues along with a slightly less known issue of the prehistoric written language of Ireland called Ogham which, although not very well known, is still a very interesting topic.
We"re all familiar with Stonehenge, but many people may not know that there are many megalithic sites in Ireland to and their purpose, like Stonehenge, has always been greatly debated. Thusly, a significant research issue is that of the stone monoliths in Ireland. The megalithic passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, Fourknocks, Loughcrew and Tara are located in the present day County of Meath on the east coast of Ireland. The Boyne Valley Mounds at Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth were built around 3200 B.C., making them older than Stonehenge in England and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Built by Neolithic communities about 5000 years ago, the passage tomb monuments have clear astronomical alignments such as the winter solstice sunrise at Newgrange and the equinox sunrise at Loughcrew. There is a lively debate about whether these megalithic monuments were built primarily as burial tombs, sacred temples or astrological observatories.
The most famous of all Irish prehistoric monuments, Newgrange is one of the finest European passage tombs. Newgrange was originally built about 3100 B.C. and today is in a much restored form. It consists of a vast stone and turf mound about 85m in diameter and 13.5m high, containing a passage leading to a burial chamber. Outside the base, 12 out of the original estimated 38 large boulders form a ring of about 104m in diameter. The stone circle was built about 1000 years later than the original structure. This ring of stones is almost unique in Great Britain and Ireland, with only a few other sites that are remotely similar.
