An archaeological dig to investigate prehistoric burial mounds in Kirk Michael will start on Sunday (July 2).

The dig is part of a project, called Round Mounds of the Isle of Man, jointly led by Dr Rachel Crellin, who is from Port Erin, but now works at Leicester University.

Dr Crellin will lead a 13-strong party at Cronk Guckley in Kirk Michael, along with Dr Chris Fowler, head of archaeology at Newcastle University.

The July excavation, funded by Manx National Heritage and Newcastle University, is part of the project launched last year to investigate the island’s prehistoric burial mounds.

Dr Crellin said: ’I’ve excavated at sites across the island since I was 16 including Rushen Abbey, Ballacagen Iron Age [near Castletown] settlement and Knockaloe internment camp while working for the Centre for Manx Studies.’

investigations

She said: ’In addition to bringing students and staff to conduct investigations on the island, our visit will include plenty of outreach activities. We are running events with schoolchildren and guided tours of the site.

’The first year of the project involved desk-based research on prehistoric burials and their location in the landscape, geophysical surveys at a small number of sites, and the first modern osteological analysis of the Neolithic and Bronze Age skeletal remains from the island.

’During the osteological work new finds, including a rare bone pommel, were discovered. This is the project’s first dig on the island.’

Dr Fowler said: ’More than 160 prehistoric round mounds are known in the island, but very few have been excavated by archaeologists using modern techniques. The project will discover any remains of prehistoric activity that survive at the site of these two mounds and this will add to the ongoing study led by myself and Dr Crellin investigating all of the known round mounds and other Bronze Age burial sites in the Isle of Man.

’These mounds of earth and stone were built over burial grounds, and have been found across the British Isles and continental Europe.’

The Steam Packet is supporting the visit by assisting with travel costs for the archaeologists and their vehicles and equipment.

The guided tours will take place at 3.30pm from Monday (July 3) to July 14. Booking is essential as places are limited. To book a place email [email protected].

Updates on the projects findings are posted to the Round Mounds of the Isle of Man website, www.roundmounds.wordpress.com