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Anciently sacred because horizon shape & cyclical celestial patterns are in useful harmony at this place.

Orange lines mark the annual solar round. Lunistice positions over the 18.6 year lunar nodal cycle are blue. More about the Solar CalendarMore about the Lunar Calendar

mega-what / ancient sacred places / Ireland, Sligo

Carrowmore (3) : Passage Tomb SL014-209004

NGR 166207/333737 (IG 66206 ITM 33737 / 54.25138, -8.51921)

Trajectories 4000BCE. Tap/Click pics for big ones.
Panoramic view with luni-solar trajectories from Passage Tomb 3 Carrowmore, Sligo, Ireland. This is Tomb 3 as numbered by the George Petrie survey of 1837. Excavated by Burenhult and his Swedish team between 1977 and 1982 but numbered in that work as tomb 4. Radio carbon dates from the excavation gave a primary construction date of about 5000 BC, the oldest date obtained at Carrowmore.

South is indicated by a distant hill that is just visible over nearer ground [Pic].

North is on local high ground, right of the top and left of the intersect with far horizons [Pic].

NE from Passage Tomb 3 Carrowmore, Sligo, Ireland. To the north-east is a useful run of hills that are markers for just about everything. The lunar eighths and the solstice/cross-quarter mid­point are all on north facing slopes for added precision. Both ends of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. zone are in dips.

Tomb 4 (unexcavated) is about 55m away in this direction.

Tomb 7, excavated by Burenhult and dated to about 4200 BC is 150m beyond it.

E from Passage Tomb 3 Carrowmore, Sligo, Ireland. Eastwards, both the summer and winter cross-quarter sun rises are on north facing slopes for increased precision. The month centred on the equinox is well marked and the equinox / cross-quarter mid­points are both in dips.

SE from Passage Tomb 3 Carrowmore, Sligo, Ireland. The nearby trees that used to obscure the south-east are now gone but more distant ones occupy the low ground at the major end of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. zone, concealing the true profile.

The minor end of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. zone is in a dip as is the solstice / cross-quarter mid­point and the solstice itself is marked by a notch.

SW from Passage Tomb 3 Carrowmore, Sligo, Ireland. W from Passage Tomb 3 Carrowmore, Sligo, Ireland. The south-west and west are largely obscured but Knocknaree has the equinox at its foot and the equinox / summer cross-quarter mid­point on its top.
Nearby in this direction are tombs 2 & 1 but views from them are greatly obscured. Part of tomb 1 was excavated in 1995-96 and a charcoal sample was dated to c.4350 BC.

NW from Passage Tomb 3 Carrowmore, Sligo, Ireland. The slope of the northern end of Knocknaree makes a good marker for the quarter-month south of the summer cross-quarter. The axis of the tomb's chamber roughly indicates a local high point slightly beyond the lunar limit, in the nature of an exaggerated gesture. The area in between is again obscured by vegetation and not really surveyable but the intention is fairly clear.

Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is quite extensive, with many tombs. Click here for a map and more information.

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© Michael Wilson.