The Chambered Tombs of the Isle of Man (Paperback)

This is the first book ever devoted to the chambered tombs of the Isle of Man and, though there are no more than nine surviving monuments, they are of considerable interest and importance because of the central location of the island in the north Irish Sea where cultural influences and traditions of tomb building are mixed – and no doubt populations too. These monuments, still impressive reminders of the past in our contemporary landscape, belong to the early 4th millennium BC when farming, one of the most significant movers of change in society, first came to the Isle of Man. These vast stone chambers speak of the power of ancestors, the continuity of family groups and the importance of the land and territory which sustained them. Work on this book was begun in the 1960s by Audrey Henshall, the foremost authority on these monuments in Britain. It has been edited and brought up to date for publication by Frances Lynch and Peter Davey and contains a comprehensive study of previous work on the tombs, new plans and commentary on each site, and also a review of the associated finds from excavation. Appendices provide the final reports on previously unpublished excavations at King Orry’s Grave and Ballaharra.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction: Introduction to Chambered Tombs

Previous work on Manx chambered tombs

Note on the preparation of this volume and acknowledgements

The Natural Setting

The geographical and geological background A. M. Cubbon

Recent work on the changing natural environment Philippa Tomlinson

1. Catalogue and Commentary: Introduction to catalogue

Cashtal yn Ard

King Orry’s Grave

Ballafayle

Meayll Hill

The Cloven Stones

Llaght ny Foawr (Giant’s Grave), Kew

Croit-ny-Howe, Clay Head

Ballakelly

Ballaharra

Port St Mary

2. The Artefacts from the Tombs: The Pottery

The Flints

Bone

Miscellaneous Later Material

3. General summary: Mesolithic Prelude

Early Neolithic Period

Distribution of Earlier Neolithic Settlement

Significance of the Tombs

Material Culture of the Tomb Builders

Burial Rituals

Grave Offerings

Forecourt Use

The Late Neolithic Period in the Isle of Man

The Early Bronze Age

Bibliography

Appendix 1. The Excavation of King Orry’s Grave (North East) 1953 B. R. S. Megaw

Appendix 2. Excavations by Sheila Cregeen at Ballaharra, German 1969-1983

Appendix 3. The 1971 Excavation at Meayll Hill

Peter Davey is an archaeologist with a special interest in the medieval and early modern periods in north-western Europe and a 40-year involvement with the Isle of Man. As Director of the multi-disciplinary Centre for Manx Studies between 1992 and 2007 he led the excavation team at Rushen Abbey from 1998 to his retirement. He obtained his PhD from the University of Liverpool in 1990.

Peter Davey is an archaeologist with a special interest in the medieval and early modern periods in north-western Europe and a 40-year involvement with the Isle of Man. As Director of the multi-disciplinary Centre for Manx Studies between 1992 and 2007 he led the excavation team at Rushen Abbey from 1998 to his retirement. He obtained his PhD from the University of Liverpool in 1990.