the passage grave

La Hougue Bie is a Neolithic ritual site which was in use around 3500 BC. It is one of the largest and best preserved passage graves in Europe. Although it is generally referred to as a tomb, the monument would have served a much more complex purpose, with a number of ritual and ceremonial functions, of which burial was only one.

The passage grave itself was discovered in 1924 during excavations by the Société Jersiaise. The structure consists of a narrow passage (9.6m long) leading into a large oval chamber (9m long x 3.6m wide) with two small side chambers projecting from the north and south walls. A raised platform leads to a small end chamber located at the western side of the main chamber, this area was probably the most sacred part of the monument. The large upright stones and capstones in the tomb itself come from various places in the east of the island and evidence suggests that some have been reused from earlier monuments. They were set into the ground using earth ramps, wooden rollers and a lot of manpower.

Considering the size and complex nature of the structure, finds were relatively few. Human bone fragments of at least eight individuals were discovered, as well as a number of artefacts including flint tools, beads, the bones of sheep, pig and ox and large quantities of limpet shells. Fragments of around twenty pottery vessels were found, many of which showed signs of burning and may have been used as lamps or for the ritual burning of incense.

Since the recent excavations and restoration of the original entrance of the passage we have made an exciting discovery. Observations from inside the tomb at sunrise on the spring and autumn equinox have revealed that the orientation of the passage allows the sun's rays to shine through to the chamber entering the back recess of the terminal cell.