Viking burials found in the Isle of Man
This list of burials is currently a work in progress. More information will be added over time but it is hoped that even the meagre information supplied here will be of some use. Any list of Viking burials is going to be open to discussion. Many of these burials were discovered in the 18th and 19th centuries, long before modern archaeological practices came into use.
Our map of Viking Burials in Britain is derived from the following maps: [Bersu & Wilson 1966]:p.xii; [Wilson 1976:p.394]; [Graham-Campbell 1994]:p.p.134 & 153; [Graham-Campbell & Batey 1998]:p.115 & p.130; [Graham-Campbell 2001]:p.107; [Redknap 2000]:p.95; [Richards 2004]:p.191; [Redmond 2007]:p.70, p.77, p.87, p.93, p.107, p.117; [Harrison & Ó Floinn 2014]:p.225
We have recently discovered Angela Redmond's book, 'Viking Burial in the North of England' [Redmond 2007]. This gives a very good overview of of burials from the British Isles and is well worth acquiring if you are interested in this subject.
Status
The reliability of pagan graves varies. The 'Status' rating gives an indication of the current thinking relating to the finds reliability.
Accepted (A)
There is a good contemporary archaeological record of the find. Including a diagram of the grave and finds, etc.
Possible (P)
The contemporary archaeological record of the find is not as good but the grave goods would tend to indicate a pagan grave. The grave may be located in a mound or Church yard.
Discredited (D)
The argument in favour of this being a Viking grave has now been discredited although it has previously been published as such in the past. These are most probably just stray finds.
Contents
- 1 Index by Parish
- 2 List by Find Date
- 2.1 Isle of Man, Peel: St. Patrick's Isle
- 2.2 Isle of Man, Arbory: Balladoole
- 2.3 Isle of Man, Jurby: Ballateare
- 2.4 Isle of Man, Jurby: Cronk Moar
- 2.5 Isle of Man, Lezayre: Cronk yn How
- 2.6 Isle of Man, Andreas: Knoc-y-doonee
- 2.7 Isle of Man, Michael: Kirk Michael
- 2.8 Isle of Man, Jurby: Ballachrink
- 2.9 Isle of Man, Malew: Malew churchyard
- 2.10 Isle of Man, Patrick: Ballelby
- 2.11 Isle of Man, Maughold: St. Maughold
- 2.12 Isle of Man, Ballaugh: Ballaugh
- 2.13 Isle of Man, Jurby: Jurby
- 2.14 Isle of Man, Bradden: Old Kirk Braddan
- 2.15 Isle of Man, German: St Johns
- 2.16 Isle of Man, German: St. Johns, Balladoyne Churchyard
- 3 References
Index by Parish
Andreas
|
Bradden
|
Jurby
|
Maughold
|
List by Find Date
Isle of Man, Peel: St. Patrick's Isle
- Status- Accepted
- Type- Burial
- Find Date- excavated between 1982 and 1987
- Bodies- 7 graves with accompanied grave goods. 5 adult and 2 child burials.
- Dated to- first half of the C10th
- Publications-
- Adult female (84.16/L (483))
- woolen dress probably with a tablet woven sash, possible sprang head-dress (or possibly a bag?), down filled leather pillow [GRAHAM CAMPBELL 2002:p.86]
- iron roasting spit
- 3 knives (2 with handles inlaid with silver wire)
- a pair of shears
- antler comb
- 2 needles
- miniature pestle and mortar of limestone
- necklace of 2 amber beads and a pierced ammonite.
- necklace of 71 beads of coloured glass, amber and jet.
- Adult male? (84.16/L (420))
- silver penny (939-46AD)
- copper-alloy ringed pin with a polyhedral head probably used to fasten a cloak.
- 18 woven silver wire balls. Probably used to decorate a fringed cloak.
- D shaped buckle with a decorated plate. Found just above the right knee and probably used to secure the body in the shroud.
- Adult (85.60/L (595))
- 4 silver wire balls. Again probably a fringe ornament of a cloak or shawl (they were found at the pelvis and right wrist).
- Adult male? (85.60/L (1155))
- curved lidded chest
- ringed pin
- linen cloak or shroud
- strap end and buckle from a belt
- traces of a comb, possible awl.
- Adult (84.16/L (629))
- casket
- belt buckle with decorated plate, strap end
- iron knife in a leather sheath.
- child (85.60/L (682))
- silver half penny (946-55AD)
- child (84.16/L (757))
- small bell, 6 glass beads, 2 amber beads
Isle of Man, Arbory: Balladoole
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- 1946
- Bodies- Male grave with female body (possibly of a sacrificial slave)
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Shield boss - with a hand grip
Isle of Man, Jurby: Ballateare
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- 1946
- Aprox location- SC 344 970
- Bodies- 2 small fragments of a human skull.
- Dated to- ?
- Museum- Manx Museum
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- '
Isle of Man, Jurby: Cronk Moar
- Status-
- Type-
- Find Date- excavated in 1939
- Bodies- Male grave
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Sword
- Sword baldric - Strap distributer, buckle and strap end
- Spear
- Shield Boss
- Knife
- Pin
- Cloak - Fragment of cloak
Isle of Man, Lezayre: Cronk yn How
- Status-
- Type-
- Find Date- excavated in 1930
- Bodies- None - possible female grave.
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Box - hinges, 60 clench nails and roves (possibly part of a 60cm long strong box
- Glass bead
Isle of Man, Andreas: Knoc-y-doonee
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- 1927? Boat Burial
- Bodies- 2 small fragments of a human skull, horse skeleton
- Dated to- ?
- Museum- Manx Museum
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Sword - Petersen type X, Spear Head (fragment)
- Axe - Petersen type G,
- Shield Boss - Type R.562 (fragment)
- Ring headed pin - Bronze (possibly with enamel inlay)
- Iron bowl, hammer, smith tongs, lead weight for a fishing line
- two knives with bone handles,
- Horse harness - links of iron with remains of leather straps, Iron buckle, various small bronze fragments also possibly from the bridle,
- Four pairs of strap protector, three plain strap ends, 2 plain studs set in leather
- 300 iron rivets from the boat
Isle of Man, Michael: Kirk Michael
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- 1885
- Bodies- found in a church yard whilst digging a grave
- Dated to- ?
- Museum- Manx Museum
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Spear head - Petersen type K
Isle of Man, Jurby: Ballachrink
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- 1880
- Aprox location- SC 440 990
- Bodies- none. Found in a flagged cist in a barrow
- Dated to- ?
- Museum- Manx Museum
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Sword - Upper part of a Sword with a curved guard, base of a spear head with wings (lugs), 'a perforated stone disc'
Isle of Man, Malew: Malew churchyard
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- c.1854
- Bodies- found in a possible grave in Malew churchyard
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Two swords
Isle of Man, Patrick: Ballelby
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- c.1850
- Bodies- a possible skeleton (left in situ by the discovering farmer)
- Dated to- ?
- Museum- left in situ
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Axe head (left in situ) - bearded
Isle of Man, Maughold: St. Maughold
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- 1824
- Bodies- found in a church yard whilst digging a grave
- Dated to- ?
- Museum- National Museum of Scotland
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Sword - Petersen type L
Isle of Man, Ballaugh: Ballaugh
- Status-
- Type- burial in a low barrow
- Find date- 1824
- Bodies-
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Grave goods
- Sword - Petersen type L
- Spear Head (lost)
- Publications-
Isle of Man, Jurby: Jurby
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- ? found in a church yard (St. Patrick?) and re-interred by the Vicar.
- Bodies-
- Dated to- ?
- Museum-
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Sword - (Wheeler type III?)
Isle of Man, Bradden: Old Kirk Braddan
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- ? found in a church yard whilst digging a grave
- Bodies-
- Dated to- ?
- Museum- Manx Museum
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Sword - with missing hilt
Isle of Man, German: St Johns
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- Pre 1860AD
- Aprox location- SC 277 819
- Bodies- found in an open cist
- Dated to- ?
- Museum- LOST
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Axe head (LOST) -
- Stirrup (LOST) -
- Beads (LOST) - a handful of beads
- Sword (LOST) - was also found in the same field of Petersen type P
Isle of Man, German: St. Johns, Balladoyne Churchyard
- Status-
- Type-
- Find date- ?
- Bodies- found in a christian cemetery
- Dated to- ?
- Museum- Manx Museum
- Publications-
- Grave goods
- Sword - Petersen type M
- Spear head - Petersen type K with linen fragment in the socket
- Shield boss