New Archaeological Research Project investigates the Isle of Man’s Round Mounds

A bowl buried along with cremated human remains in the Early Bronze Age round mound, Cronk Aust (c. 2280-2036 BC)

 
The Isle of Man’s prehistoric “round mounds” will be investigated in a new research project to be undertaken by researchers from Newcastle University and University of Leicester thanks to support from Manx National Heritage and Culture Vannin.

Round mounds are earthen mounds built over human burial sites. They are found throughout the British Isles and in Continental Europe. First appearing in the Neolithic Age around 3500 BC, their use continued in some form into the Bronze Age.

The project aims to investigate what these sites and their associated burials, people and artefacts can tell us about life on the Isle of Man and also about interaction with other communities across Britain, Ireland and potentially beyond, in the Neolithic and Bronze Age.

Over 160 round mounds have been identified on the Isle of Man, with four excavated between 30 and 60 years ago. No modern research using systematic survey and excavation has ever been carried out. [...] Manx National Heritage / Link 2