Dowth

Dowth (Irish: Dubhadh) is the site of Neolithic passage tombs near the River Boyne in County Meath, Ireland. It is one of the three main tombs of the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site, along with Newgrange and Knowth. Its features align it with the other passage tombs, which date from around 3200 BC. Unlike its neighbours, Dowth has mostly been left as a ruin, although its smaller inner chambers are largely intact.

The cairn is about 85 metres (280 ft) in diameter and 15 metres (50 ft) high, surrounded by large kerbstones, some decorated. About 115 kerbstones originally surrounded it, and kerbstone 51, the Stone of the Seven Suns, carries radial circular carvings like those at Loughcrew. Three stone-lined passages lead in from the west: two passage tombs, Dowth North and Dowth South, and a souterrain. Dowth North is 18.2 metres long, crossed by 3 sill-stones, and ends in a cruciform chamber with a lintelled roof. Its stones are decorated with spirals, chevrons, lozenges and rayed circles, and a single stone basin, 1.4m x 1m, stands on the floor.

Dowth South is 3.5 metres long and ends in a roughly circular chamber with a modern concrete roof, the original having collapsed. A kerbstone with cup-marks, a spiral and a flower-like design marks its entrance. The third entrance is an early Christian souterrain, constructed around the 10th or 11th century. The Annals refer to Norsemen plundering the cave of Dowth around 862, which may mean this souterrain.

The Royal Irish Academy excavated in 1847 and almost completely dug out and dynamited the middle of the mound, leaving a large crater that has never been repaired. Unlike Newgrange and Knowth, Dowth has not been independently dated, but its features suggest between approximately 3200 and 2900 BC. In 1970 Peter Harbison dated the tomb at 2500 – 2000 BC. Surveys of the entire site were carried out from 2012 to 2015, and in July 2018 another passage tomb in the grounds of nearby Dowth Hall was excavated, revealing Neolithic rock art.

Martin Brennan records that from November to February the evening sun reaches into Dowth South, and that at the winter solstice its light moves along the passage into the chamber, lighting three stones, and withdraws after about two hours. The medieval Dindsenchas tells that king Bresal Bó-Díbad forced the men of Ireland to build a tower to heaven in a day, and that his sister's spell made the sun stand still until the incest between them broke it. The sun set, the builders left, and so the place is named Dubhadh ('darkening').

The cairn or tumulus is about 85 metres (280 ft) in diameter and 15 metres (50 ft) high, and surrounded by large kerbstones, some of which are decorated. Quartz was found fallen outside the kerbing, suggesting that the entrance to this tomb was surrounded by glittering white stone, as at Knowth and Newgrange. Three stone-lined passages lead into the mound from the west. These comprise two passage tombs (known as Dowth North and Dowth South) and a souterrain.

The longest of the passages (Dowth North) is 18.2 metres in length and is crossed by 3 sill-stones and ends in a cruciform chamber with a lintelled (not corbelled as in Newgrange or Knowth) roof. Dowth South is 3.5 metres long and ends in a roughly circular chamber with a modern concrete roof (the original roof having collapsed). In Dowth North, several of the orthostats (upright stones) of the passage and chamber are decorated with spirals, chevrons, lozenges and rayed circles. On the floor stands a single stone basin, 1.4m x 1m in size. The right-hand arm of the cross leads into another long rectangular chamber with an L-shaped extension entered over a low sill, sometimes referred to as 'the annex'. This may be the earliest part of the tomb, later brought within the design of the cruciform tomb. This annex is floored with a 2.4 metre-long flagstone containing an oval bullaun (artificial depression). Until recently, the cruciform tomb was reached by climbing down a ladder in an iron cage, and crawling about over loose stones. Now, access is restricted, and all the features are guarded by metal grilles.

A kerbstone with cup-marks, a spiral, and a flower-like design marks the entrance to Dowth South. While the current roof is modern, it is possible the original one was corbelled, as at Newgrange. This tomb has a few decorated stones and a large right-hand recess.

The third entrance visible on the west side of Dowth is an early Christian souterrain. It leads into the passage of Dowth North and was constructed around the 10th or 11th century. The Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters refer to Norsemen plundering the "cave‟ of Dowth around 862; the "cave" in this description may refer to the souterrain as the Irish word for cave and souterrain are the same: Uaimh

The mound originally had about 115 kerbstones surrounding it. Kerbstone 51, sometimes called the Stone of the Seven Suns, features a number of radial circular carvings, similar to those at Loughcrew.