Roof Box Newgrange

Key piece of the newgrange design was a roof box or light box which controlled the way light came into the passage.

Roof box newgrange.

Above the entrance to the passage of the mound there is a opening called a roof box. The term was coined by professor michael o kelly during his excavation of the newgrange passage cairn at brú na bóinne ireland. It is well known that newgrange has a roof box through which the winter solstice sun light penetrates up to the chamber of newgrange. Below the decorated lintel is what o kelly called the back corbel and behind that is roof stone 2 rs 2.

On mornings around the winter solstice a beam of light penetrates the roof box and travels up the 19 metre passage and into the chamber. This baffling orifice held a great surprise for those who unearthed it. It was built with carefully crafted baffles that restricted the entry of light to the time of the winter solstice and also so that the light only came. O kelly termed the roof box is one of the most celebrated features of the passage tomb at newgrange.

Newgrange is best known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the winter solstice sun. From the scrape marks on the rocks archaeologists were able to tell that these rocks had been used to block or open the hole just like a window. A roofbox is a specially contrived opening above a doorway usually built for some astronomical significant event. Above the entrance to the passage at newgrange there is a opening called a roof box.

This window through which the sun shines on the chamber floor is at present times trapezium formed because the light is blocked by. Its purpose is to allow sunlight to penetrate the chamber on the shortest days of the year around december 21st the winter solstice. The roof box at newgrange originally contained two large white quartz blocks. The roof box sits above the passage tomb entrance resting partially on top of two different roof slabs.

The newgrange roof box viewed from the exterior of the tomb. Freeman marr explores the unique archaeological feature of newgrange known as the roof box which was rediscovered after the excavations carried out at the site in the 1960s by. The view through the roof box slit after sunrise on the winter solstice. This was done in order to to let in the light at the right time of the year and to conceal the opening otherwise.

The ritual origins of the roof box at newgrange the thesis by laura e. The roofbox was built directly above the entrance door to the passage.