Blue Lights of Krivikil: an ancient tomb filled with hidden chambers (18 photos + 1 video)

Ireland is full of ghosts. Its ancient cultures, almost completely hidden from us by the veil of time, left behind windswept lands strewn with mysteries and strange places.





One of the most unusual and ancient can be found in County Donegal. On the rugged Atlantic coast stands the mysterious tomb of Creevickil, a Neolithic wonder shrouded in legend.



Planck of the Krivikil Complex

Its weathered stones and eerie atmosphere have captured the imagination for centuries. People come from all over the world to try to unravel the secrets hidden in the ancient chambers.





A bird's eye view of the Krivikil area

Some claim to have seen mysterious blue lights suddenly flashing among the stones. Others have heard the howling ghosts of Krivikil on the darkest nights.

Who were these ancient people who built the tomb? And who was the "court" of Krivikil for?

Artifacts, Giants and Spirits



The Courtyard of Craivikil during excavations in 1935

Crivikil (or Tuama Cúirte na Craobhaí Caoile in Irish) is one of the best preserved courtyard tombs in Ireland. These megalithic structures date back to between 4000 and 2500 BC and are known as gallery tombs.



These megaliths, characterized by an open courtyard, once numbered in the hundreds across Ireland and southwest Scotland. Some are older than the Pyramids of Giza.



Although today known as Crivikil, locals once called it Castle Baoskin, or Castle of Witchcraft. And when archaeologists began to study the tomb in the 20th century, they gave it another name - "Giants' Tombs", because of the huge stones scattered around.



Krivikil has all the features of a classic courtyard tomb: north-south orientation and the remains of a stone embankment.

Courtyard of the Dead



Courtyard of Krivikil and ancient stone entrance

It is believed that the open courtyard (from which the tombs got their name) was used for rituals - burial rites and pagan ceremonies. These were mass events in which the entire tribe participated.



The courtyard of Creweekil is oval in shape, with an entrance to the east that leads to a corridor lined with standing stones. The dimensions are impressive: 15 meters long and 9 meters wide, it is one of the largest courtyards in Ireland.



On the western side is a gallery that served as a burial chamber. The entrance to it is guarded by two massive stone jambs, once covered by a huge lintel (it fell, but was restored during the restoration).



All this created a solemn atmosphere: participants in the rituals gathered in an oval courtyard, and the ceremonies took place in front of the entrance to the tomb, as if on a stage. Neolithic Ireland, it seems, loved drama.



Behind the door lies a burial gallery divided into two chambers. Four urns containing cremated remains were found here. Once upon a time, all of this was covered with a stone embankment, but it was destroyed long ago.

Findings and Legends



Excavations began here in 1935 under the direction of the Harvard Archaeological Expedition. Not only did they reveal the structure of the tomb, but they also brought back some amazing finds.

Artefacts from both the Neolithic and early Christian periods were found, proving that the site had been in use for centuries.



The finds included two polished stone axes (one made of diorite), a flint knife (13 centimeters long), an arrowhead, pottery fragments (including the remains of eight Neolithic pots), and quartz crystals.

But the most interesting thing is the early Christian smelting furnace found at the entrance to the tomb. Apparently, after a long period of oblivion, a forge was placed here. Historians assume that metallurgists hoped to use the magical power of the place to strengthen their products.

Blue lights, white hare and giants



There are many legends associated with Krivikil. The most famous is about the mysterious blue lights that are sometimes seen among the stones.

Some said that these were the spirits of the ancient dead, still wandering here. Others believed that the lights came from the fairies (Irish fairies) or the Tuatha De Danann, a mythical race that preceded the elves.



And when the bones of two babies were found in the tomb, a version appeared that the lights were the ghosts of children.

But there is also a more mundane explanation: moonshine (potin) was distilled in the tomb for a long time, and the blue lights could have been the flames of a still.



Another legend says that a white hare lives here - a supernatural creature. Some consider it a werewolf, others - a guardian spirit.

And the huge stones gave rise to the myth of giants. In some tales, the tomb was built by Diarmuid, in others - by Finn McCool, the hero of the Irish epic.

A place where history meets myth



Be that as it may, Krivikil remains a mysterious monument of antiquity. Its stones keep the whispers of the past, and legends about blue lights, a white hare and giants continue to excite minds.

Archaeology reveals only part of the truth. The main magic of Krivikil is in the interweaving of facts and legends, creating a history that will always intrigue and inspire.