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The caves at Newgrange excavated

Historic photographs of Newgrange from the nineteenth century through to the early 1960s excavations, with a newspaper report from 1928 on work around the mound.

Nineteenth-century photograph of the Newgrange entrance with the carved entrance stone and overgrown mound before modern restoration. Old photograph of the Newgrange entrance from the 1800s. Source: Newgrange through the ages.
Late nineteenth-century photograph of Newgrange showing the entrance passage and surrounding kerbstones before excavation. Newgrange in the late 1800s, before the later clearance and restoration of the facade. Source: Newgrange through the ages.
Pre-1898 photograph by R. Welch of the Newgrange entrance stone with spiral and lozenge carvings, overgrown mound and wooden fence above the doorway. Newgrange entrance before 1898, photograph by R. Welch of Belfast, from the travel guide Vale of the Boyne.
Early photograph of Newgrange entrance with carved entrance stone in the foreground and two visitors at the gated doorway. Newgrange entrance in the early twentieth century, with visitors at the gated doorway.

Report from the Drogheda Independent, 14 July 1928

Archaeological excavations and investigations are at present in the course of progress at the Caves of Newgrange near Drogheda, that strange and ancient tomb in which legend tells us the Kings of Ireland were buried as long ago as 1500 BC.

Newgrange as archaeologists know is the largest tumulus in Europe, Egypt being the only other place where monuments of similar antiquity are to be found. The present investigation is being carried on under the direction of that eminent archaeologist, Professor Macalister, and consists of digging about the base of the tumulus. This work has so far revealed oblong stones on which ancient and unfortunately undecipherable patterns and markings are worked in spiral, lozenge and other forms. One stone now resting on wooden supports has had all these patterns worked on it.

Plans have also been made, we understand, to cut down the trees growing on top of the mound, as their roots have become dangerous to the ceiling of the tumulus and which it is feared have already damaged the chambers and corridors that are thought to exist but have never yet been opened. The further progress of work will be followed with interest by those with a penchant for probing into the secrets of the past.

Black and white photograph of standing stones on a grassy slope before Newgrange, with bare trees on the mound beyond. Newgrange photograph by Seán P Ó Ríordáin from his book Antiquities of the Irish Countryside.
Photograph of Newgrange in the 1950s showing the grass-covered mound and entrance area before the 1960s excavations. Newgrange before the excavations of the 1960s. Source: Newgrange through the ages.
Photograph by Leo Swan of excavation work at Newgrange in the early 1960s with open trenches around the mound. Excavations at Newgrange in the early 1960s. Photograph: Leo Swan. Source: Newgrange through the ages.

More Newgrange photographs and images of Newgrange.

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