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After its initial use, the entrance to
Newgrange was sealed and it remained closed for several millennia, subsequently
gaining several associations in local folklore and mythology. It first began to be
studied as a prehistoric monument by antiquarians in the seventeenth century AD, and
over subsequent centuries various archaeological excavations
took place at the site before it was largely restored to an interpretation of
its original Neolithic appearance by conservators in the 1970s. Today,
Newgrange is a popular tourist site, and according to the archaeologist Colin Renfrew, is "unhesitatingly
regarded by the prehistorian as the great national monument of Ireland"
and is also widely recognised as one of the most important megalithic
structures in Europe.
The mound and
passage tomb
The Newgrange monument primarily comprises a large mound,
built of alternating layers of earth and stones, with grass growing on top and
a reconstructed facade of flattish white quartz stones studded at intervals
with
