Ireland is home to some of the world's oldest astronomically-aligned
structures, giant stone monuments erected over 5,000 years ago. Despite
their apparent simplicity, these megalithic edifices were crafted by a
scientifically knowledgeable community of farmers who endeavored to
enshrine their beliefs in a stellar afterlife within the very fabric of
their cleverly designed stone temples.
Finally back in print, this reissued edition presents evidence
suggesting the builders of monuments such as Newgrange and its Boyne
Valley counterparts were adept astronomers, cunning engineers and
capable surveyors. Their huge monuments are memorials in stone and
earth, commemorating their creators' perceived unity with the cosmos and
enshrining a belief system which resulted from a crossover between
science and spirituality.
As investigation of this awe-inspiring civilization of people continues
on many levels, evidence is emerging that significant archaeological
sites dating from deep in prehistory are linked - not just through
mythology, archaeology and cosmology - but through an arrangement of
complex, and in some cases astonishing, alignments. Some of these
alignments of ancient sites stretch from one side of Ireland to
another.
While the accounts of the lives of some prominent Irish saints appear to
be steeped in folklore and mystery, it seems from new interpretations of
the literature that the cosmic world view which existed in Neolithic
Ireland experienced a continuity right into the Early Christian
period.
Join us on this fascinating exploration of stones, stars and stories.
"The sheer amount of information contained within the book is
mind-boggling. It is well thought out and structured . . . The more you
read the evidence the more convinced you become." - *Astronomy & Space
magazine
*
"Refreshing and fascinating . . . a wonderful magical book, sumptuously
illustrated and a must for anyone who loves to delve deep into our
past." - *Kenny's Irish Bookshop
*
"A fascinating insight into Ireland's ancient burial sites" - *Irish
Independent
*
"A monument" - *Drogheda Independent
*
"It is a beautiful book and very well written. The information that you
collected is outstanding." - Barbara Carter, co-author, The Myth of the
Year and *The Goddess and the Bull
*
"The authors . . . reach interesting and challenging conclusions about
the significance of ancient astronomical knowledge. The book is jammed
with colour illustrations, maps and photographs. A thoroughly
interesting read!" - *Archaeology Ireland
*
"An essential book that demonstrates just how much the beliefs and
practices of our ancestors were influenced by the movement of the stars,
in particular those of the constellation Cygnus - the celestial swan and
Northern Cross - once seen as a source of life and the destination of
the soul in death. A must have tome for all those passionate about what
remains of our fast disappearing ritual monuments of the prehistoric
age." - Andrew Collins, author of The Cygnus Mystery
