Thursday, July 02, 2026

History Highlights

The great grassy mound of Dowth rising above the Boyne farmland

Dowth: The Forgotten Third Mound of Ireland’s Boyne Valley

Overshadowed by Newgrange, the 5,000-year-old passage tomb of Dowth is just as ancient and just as mysterious — a brooding mound that still guards its secrets.

The weathered façade of Ħaġar Qim rising from the Maltese clifftop

Ħaġar Qim: Malta’s Cliff-Top Temple Older Than the Pyramids

On a windswept Maltese clifftop stands Ħaġar Qim, a limestone temple raised more than 5,000 years ago — older than the pyramids, and still standing against the sea.

The Mnajdra temples set on a low bluff above the Mediterranean Sea

Mnajdra: The 5,000-Year-Old Maltese Temple That Tracks the Sun

On Malta’s southern coast stand the temples of Mnajdra, over 5,000 years old. One is aligned so precisely with the sun that it marks the equinoxes and solstices, turning stone into an ancient calendar.

An overview of the sprawling Tarxien temple complex on Malta

Tarxien: Malta’s Most Elaborate Prehistoric Temple, Carved 5,000 Years Ago

On Malta stands Tarxien, the most richly decorated of all the island’s prehistoric temples. With carved spirals, animal reliefs, and a colossal statue, it is a masterpiece of Neolithic art over 5,000 years old.

The great mound of Knowth rising above the Boyne Valley, ringed by smaller tombs

Knowth: Europe’s Greatest Collection of Neolithic Art, Hidden Beside Newgrange

In Ireland’s Boyne Valley, beside its famous neighbour Newgrange, stands Knowth: a vast passage tomb with two passages, a ring of satellite tombs, and the greatest concentration of megalithic art in Europe.