The incorporation of light boxes into megaliths is one of the few direct proofs of the link between megaliths and astronomy, as their purpose was the manipulation of light into the passage mounds at certain times of the year only. In Egypt, the earliest pyramids all contain 'polar-shafts', and on Malta, the 'Temples' were orientated towards the solstices and equinoxes. In Britain, all the known passage-mounds containing light-boxes were also aligned with solar events, (i.e. the equinoxes or solstice)
- Newgrange - Ireland, (Winter Solstice, Lunar standstill)
- Crantit Tomb, Orkneys - (Start and end of winter..?)
- Carrowkeel (Cairn-G), (Possibly Cairn-H), Ireland, (Summer and winter solstice, Lunar standstill)
- Maes Howe - Orkneys, (Winter solstice).
- Bryn Celli Ddu - Anglesey, (Summer solstice, Lunar standstill)
Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, Fourknocks and Maes-Howe all have cruciform chambers inside (And the internal layout of the Maltese temples also show strong similarities). The exact function/purpose of the cruciform design is still unknown, but there are some common threads which may offer a clue as to their original purpose.
European Cruciform chambers are frequently associated with astronomical orientation.
They are distinguished by a long passage leading to a central chamber with a corbelled roof. From this, burial chambers extend in three directions, giving the overall impression in plan of a cross shape layout. Some examples have further sub-chambers leading off the three original chambers. The network of chambers is covered by a cairn and lined outside with kerb-stones.
A common trait is megalithic art carved into the stones of the chambers' walls and roofs. Abstract designs were favoured, especially spirals and zig-zags.
Examples are Newgrange , Knowth, Dowth and Fourknocks (amongst many) in Ireland, Maes howe in Orkney, 'La Hougue Bie' on Jersey and Barclodiad-y-Gawres in Anglesey, and the Maltese temples.
Light-boxes are an exclusively Neolithic design feature employed so as to restrict the entrance of light into a chamber or passage.
This particular construction feature has so far only been recorded at four (possibly five) sites in the Britain, with the two in Ireland (Newgrange and Carrowkeel) both having the same design, two on the Orkneys (Maes Howe and Crantit) in Scotland and one in Wales (Brynn-Celli-Ddu).
Newgrange at the Boyne Valley (right), possesses the finest known example of a 'Light-box'.
The incorporation of light boxes into megaliths is one of the few direct proofs of the link between megaliths and astronomy, as their purpose was the manipulation of light into the passage mounds at certain times of the year only. In Egypt, the earliest pyramids all contain 'polar-shafts', on Malta, the 'Temples' orientated towards the solstices and equinoxes and in Britain, all the known passage-mounds containing light-boxes were also aligned with solar events, (i.e. the equinoxes or solstice)
At present there are only four (possibly five), known examples of 'light-boxes', all in European megalithic structures (passage-mounds). Their design permits a focused beam of light from prominent celestial objects such as the sun and moon, to enter the chamber at specific times of their cycles. The most famous of these is at Newgrange in Ireland, where the light-box allows the suns rays to pass along the passage into the heart of the mound on the winter-solstice sunrise, (and possibly, one of the major lunar stand-stills - to be confirmed)...