Viking burials found in the Isle of Man

Viking Age Compendium articles on Burials in Britain:

Found in Britain

Burials found in England

Burials found in Scotland

Burials in the Isle of Man

Burials in Wales

Viking Age Compendium articles on Burials in Britain:

Found in Britain

Burials found in England

Burials found in Scotland

Burials in the Isle of Man

Burials in Wales

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: ; [Wilson 1976:p.394]; ; ; ; ; ; ;

We have recently discovered Angela Redmond's book, 'Viking Burial in the North of England' . 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.

This article is primarily based on the work of:

Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1

Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man.

This article is primarily based on the work of:

Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1

Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man.

Index by Parish

Andreas Knoc-y-doonee Arbory Balladoole Ballaugh Ballaugh

Bradden Old Kirk Braddan German Balladoyne Churchyard St Johns

Jurby Ballachrink Ballateare Cronk Moar Jurby Lezayre Cronk yn How Malew Malew churchyard

Maughold Maughold Michael Kirk Michael Patrick Ballelby St. Patrick's Isle

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-

• Freke, David (ed.) (2002) Excavations on St. Patrick's Isle, Peel, Isle of Man 1982-88. Prehistoric, Viking, Medieval and Later. p.66-73 and p.83-98
• Redmond, Angela Z. (2007) Viking Burial in the North of England. A Study of Contact, Interaction and Reaction between Scandinavian Migrants with Resident Groups, and the effect of Immigration on Aspects of Cultural Continuity.. British Archaeological Reports: BAR 429 Appx.5 no.94-100
• Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. p.47-50
• Steinforth, Dirk (2015) Die skandinavische Besiedlung auf der Isle of Man. (partly available in google books) Tab.3 no.29-36

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

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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-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1
• Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. p.38-46

Grave goods

• shield boss and 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-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1
• Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. p.28-36

Grave goods

• '

---

Isle of Man, Jurby: Cronk Moar

Status-

Type-

Find Date- excavated in 1939

Bodies- Male grave

Dated to- ?

Museum-

Publications-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1
• Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. p.36-37

Grave goods

• Sword
• Spear
• Knife
• Strap distributer, buckle and strap end
• Pin
• Shield Boss
• Fragment of cloak

• 

  Sword in leather scabbard

• 

  Cloak fragments (Rogg)

---

Isle of Man, Lezayre: Cronk yn How

Status-

Type-

Find Date- excavated in 1930

Bodies- None - possible female grave.

Dated to- ?

Museum-

Grave goods-

hinges, 60 clench nails and roves (possibly part of a 60cm long strong box

glass bead

Publications-

• Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. p.38

---

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-

Grave goods- (Manx Museum)

• Sword Petersen type X, Spear Head (fragment), Axe Head of Petersen type G, Shield Boss of R.562 (fragment)
• Iron bowl, hammer, smith tongs, two knives with bone handles, harness links of iron with remains of leather straps
• Bronze ring headed pin (possibly with enamel inlay), lead weight for a fishing line
• Four pairs of strap protector, three plain strap ends, 2 plain studs set in leather
• Iron buckle, various small bronze fragments possibly from a bridle,
• 300 iron rivets from the boat

Publications-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.23
• Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. p.37-38
• Kermode, P.M.C. (1927)Proceedings Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society. VOLUME III - 1925-1932.[http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/iomnhas/v033p241.htm (Available Online)]

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Isle of Man, Michael: Kirk Michael

Status-

Type-

Find date- 1885

Bodies- found in a church yard whilst digging a grave

Dated to- ?

Museum-

Grave goods- (Manx Museum)

Spear head of Petersen type K

Publications-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.22

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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-

Grave goods- (Manx Museum)

Upper part of a Sword with a curved guard, base of a spear head with wings (lugs), 'a perforated stone disc'

Publications-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.25
• Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. p.27

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Isle of Man, Malew: Malew churchyard

Status-

Type-

Find date- c.1854

Bodies- found in a possible grave in Malew churchyard

Dated to- ?

Museum-

Grave goods- (unknown)

Two swords

Publications-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.25

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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-

Grave goods- (left in situ)

Bearded axe

Publications-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.25
• Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. p.37

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Isle of Man, Maughold: St. Maughold

Status-

Type-

Find date- 1824

Bodies- found in a church yard whilst digging a grave

Dated to- ?

Museum-

Grave goods- (National Museum of Scotland)

Sword Petersen type L

Publications-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.23
• Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. p.47

• 

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Isle of Man, Ballaugh: Ballaugh

Status-

Type-

Find date- 1824

Aprox location- SC 340 930

Bodies- burial in a low barrow

Dated to- ?

Museum-

Grave goods-

Sword Petersen type L, Spear Head (lost)

Publications-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.22

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Isle of Man, Jurby: Jurby

Status-

Type-

Find date- ?

Aprox location- SC 350 985

Bodies- found in a church yard (St. Patrick?) and re-interred by the Vicar.

Dated to- ?

Museum-

Grave goods-

Sword (Wheeler type III?)

Publications-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.22

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Isle of Man, Bradden: Old Kirk Braddan

Status-

Type-

Find date- ?

Aprox location- SC 363 768

Bodies- found in a church yard whilst digging a grave

Dated to- ?

Museum-

Grave goods- (Manx Museum)

Sword with missing hilt

Publications-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.23

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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-

Grave goods- (Lost)

Axe, stirrup, a handful of beads

A sword was also found in the same field of Petersen type P

Publications-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.26

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Isle of Man, German: St. Johns, Balladoyne Churchyard

Status-

Type-

Find date- ?

Aprox location-

Bodies- found in a christian cemetery

Dated to- ?

Museum-

Grave goods- (Manx Museum)

Sword of Petersen type M, Spear head of Petersen type K with linen fragment in the socket, Shield boss

Publications-

• Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 p.26

References

Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 ^{[BERSU & WILSON 1966]} *

Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 ^{[BJORN & SHETELIG 1940]} *

Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. ^{[WILSON 2008]} *

Bersu, Gerhard and Wilson, David M. (1966) Three Viking Graves in the Isle of Man. The Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Servies: No 1 *

Graham-Campbell, James; Batey, Colleen; Clarke, Helen; Page, R.I. and Price, Neil S. (1994) Cultural Atlas of the Viking World. *

Graham-Campbell, James, and Batey, Colleen E. (1998) Vikings in Scotland, an archaeological survey. Edinburgh University Press. *

Graham-Campbell, James; Hall, Richard; Jesch, Judith and Parsons, David N. (eds.) (2001) Vikings and the Danelaw. Select Papers from the Proceedings of the Thirteenth Viking Congress. Viking Congress: 13 *

Harrison, Stephen H. & Ó Floinn, Raghnall 2014 Viking Graves and Grave-Goods in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962-81: Ser.B Vol.11 *

Redknap, Mark (2000) Vikings in Wales. An Archaeological Quest. *

Redmond, Angela Z. (2007) Viking Burial in the North of England. A Study of Contact, Interaction and Reaction between Scandinavian Migrants with Resident Groups, and the effect of Immigration on Aspects of Cultural Continuity.. British Archaeological Reports: BAR 429 *

Richards, Julian D. (2004) Vikings in England. *