Cairn U megalithic art

Megalithic art on one of the chamber stones of Cairn U, Carnbane East, Loughcrew. Cairn U lost its roofing stones at some time in recent centuries, and was once an enclosed space, a tomb like those of Cairn T and Cairn L, and Newgrange and Knowth and Dowth.

The passage of Cairn U is oriented such that it points to the distant southeastern horizon, and is aligned towards the rising sun at Samhain and Imbolc, the ancient cross-quarter days marking the beginning of winter and the beginning of spring. It also points to the Hill of Tara and Dumha na nGiall (Mound of the Hostages, another passage-tomb), which is hardly a coincidence.

In summertime, at certain times of the day, the sunlight brings into stark relief the symbols picked into the surface of this chamber stone at Cairn U. I was able to create this image using remote flash, which creates light at a shallow angle, highlighting the megalithic art.