Mound of the Hostages, Neolithic passage tomb in County Meath, Ireland
Mound of the Hostages is a circular structure measuring around 15 meters across and 3 meters tall, with a narrow passageway that leads to an inner chamber. The interior walls display carved patterns of circles, spirals, and x-shaped marks made directly into the stone.
This tomb was built between 3350 and 2800 BCE and held the cremated remains of over 200 individuals. Items like bronze objects and decorated pottery found inside reveal that people used this place for burials across many generations.
The entrance aligns with sunrise during the winter solstice and Imbolc festival, showing how the movement of the sun mattered to those who built this place. Visitors can watch how light enters the inner chamber at certain times of year, revealing what held meaning in their daily lives.
The site is reached by a well-marked path, and information panels at the entrance help visitors understand the structure. Visiting in early morning hours is rewarding, especially during the solstice and equinox periods, when light reaches inside the chamber.
The name comes from an old misunderstanding: this site was once thought to be a gathering place for prisoners, when it was actually a burial ground. That mistaken name from Irish folklore has stuck around even though archaeologists have long known the truth.
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