Maes Howe: A Twofold Treasure
"Maes Howe, a chambered tomb located in Scotland's Orkney Islands, is older than the pyramids. Built from
enormous stones, the tomb has one long, narrow entrance with a ceiling so low that visitors must hunch over as
they pass through it. The entrance faces toward the winter sun's location at sunset around the shortest day of the
year.Ancient rituals were performed there. Long after it was abandoned by its builders, Vikings broke into Maes
Howe and left runes carved in its walls. The collection of runes—Viking graffiti-shares sentiments familiar in any
time: "Ingigerth is the most beautiful of women"; "Haermund Hardaxe carved these runes." What looks from the
outside to be simply a round, grassy hill on a small, wind-swept island represents an amazing historical find for
two different eras.
Explain why the following inference is true or false.
"The builders of Maes Howe considered the winter sun important."