New aerial surveys using multi-spectral drone sensors have revealed a massive, previously unrecorded Neolithic enclosure in the rolling hills of County Meath. The site consists of a large circular clearing surrounded by several dozen pits that originally held massive timber posts. Located just a few kilometers from the famous Newgrange passage tomb, this structure appears to have been a communal gathering space for ritual activities and seasonal festivals nearly five millennia ago.
Unlike the stone monuments common to the region, this timber circle (or 'woodhenge') represents a different tradition of megalithic architecture. Soil analysis from the post-holes has revealed traces of charred hazelnuts and animal bones, suggesting large-scale feasting. Archaeologists believe the site was specifically aligned to track the movement of the moon, serving as a celestial calendar for the early farming communities of the Boyne Valley.