A metal detectorist and a team of archaeologists in County Meath have unearthed a hoard of tiny gold 'solar-disk' pendants near a Neolithic passage tomb. The intricate engravings on the disks depict a celestial alignment that matches the position of the sun during the spring equinox, suggesting they were worn during prehistoric light-welcoming festivals.
The find adds weight to the theory that early Irish communities practiced a sophisticated form of astronomical worship that involved multi-day gatherings and the exchange of solar-themed jewelry. This discovery is being hailed as a 'missing link' in understanding the transition from megalithic monuments to personal ritual adornment.