Among ancient civilizations, it was quite normal capture important stories or events in stones. His goal was for everyone to be aware of the events that had happened in certain places. However, a rare engraving found in Ireland surprised researchers.
The first sculpted eclipse
It’s no secret that ancient times were fascinated by astral science. In fact, over time, astronomical observatories have been discovered where ancient scientists were dedicated to the study of stars.
Our ancestors worshiped the sky and were drawn to anything they could see there. Many ancient civilizations experienced a great astronomical advance and recorded events that happened at the time, which experts have recently been able to decipher.
Because of his admiration for astronomical phenomena, in Ireland there is a very particular engraving, it is an eclipse that it happened more than 5,000 years ago; this being the earliest known recorded solar eclipse in human history.
One of the rocks at Loughcrew, where the eclipse was recorded.
oldest solar eclipse
The elders The Irish were the first to sculpt an eclipsethe work was captured on November 30, 3340 BC. The engraving was made on three giant stones of a megalithic monument.
The sculpture is in the “Cairn or Tumulus L” of the stone Ageon the building Carbane West Tumulus L. It is located near Kells, specifically in Loughcrewis characterized by a wide variety of prehistoric monuments, some say there were between 40 and 50.
The eclipse is recorded in Tumulus L of Carbane West in Loughcrew.
But other people have assured that there are many more, at least about 100 Neolithic monuments, in addition, the landscape is unique. It is full of gentle rounded hills.
The important discovery of two researchers
Two scholars were investigating the amazing carved monument and were able to discover that the sun illuminates the place where the eclipse is carved. Most surprising of all is that when it happens, it’s November 1 and February 2.
What’s so special about it? During these dates, pagan festivals were celebrated, November 1 was the end of summer and was known as “Samain”. It was considered the beginning of the winter season, and for Christians it was the all saints memorial day.
The February holiday and its meaning
February 2 also called imbolque, It was very important. Well it was considered halfway between the time of winter when the sun is farthest from the Earth and the vernal equinox. Christians celebrated this date in their own way, they celebrated the day of Virgin of Candlemas.
February 2 in Ireland was Saint Bridget’s Day., but for the ancient Celts it was the festival of lights. So everyone lit all the candles, lanterns, lights and lamps, in this way they remembered the renewal of the sun.
But, this date called “imbolc” which means “ewe’s milk” for the Irish was simply the season the lambs are born. The Sun Goddess was also commemorated on this day, in fact, for some time she was included in the list of Catholic saints.
The festival of lights theory
It was once believed that the festival of lights was invented by the Celts, and that its purpose was to welcome the eclipse. In fact, we also believe were able to predict when this astronomical phenomenon would occursomething that is really surprising.
incredible precision
This would be the earliest known recorded solar eclipse record.
Notably the irish didn’t have any kind of technology like the one the experts have today. However, they still managed to make a complex structure that remained in good condition despite being built 5,000 years ago.
You might also be interested in: An ancient Sumerian tablet describes an asteroid impact over 5,000 years ago.
On the other hand, it is important to point out that thanks to the precision with which it was built Tumulus L is still useful today. Because it continues to perform its astronomical functions with great precision.
The mystery of building
The Cairns Loughcrew in Ireland is a vast Neolithic complex. The site’s Irish name is Sliabh na Caillí, which means “witch’s mountain”. An ancient legend at the site says that the monuments were created when a giant witch (sorceress or goddess), walking across the land, dropped large stones from her apron.
The more than thirty burial mounds that make up the site display remarkable Neolithic art with megalithic petroglyphs They include diamond shapes, leaf shapes, as well as circles, some surrounded by radiating lines.
The ancient art of the place testifies to a solid knowledge of ancient astronomy. This has given rise to many debates about the meaning or appearance of the art. What is certain is that the passages of the main Cairns are aligned so that the sun shines on the rear walls on significant days.
Tumulus L.
Today the construction of Tumulus L remains an enigma, the whole building is quite surprising. But one pillar in particular known as “whispering stone” which caught the attention of researchers, it is made of limestone, it is two meters high.
At first sight, it seems that the tumulus and the chamber were built only to guard the pillar. Today, there are a large number of buildings that function as astronomical observatories. But there isn’t enough information about where they came from, how they were made, or who built them.
References: Bradshaw Foundation.
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