Taken 27th August 2003: Cronk ny Merriu viewed from Port Grenaugh (looking approximately east). The little black dot on the cliff top is a man visiting the fort.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Kammer
Taken 27th August 2003: Looking down from the rampart into the fort and the bay beyond (approximately south west). In the foreground are the foundations of the Viking house, with earthen banks and some remaining stones.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 27th August 2003: Cronk ny Merriu viewed from the east, with Port Grenaugh behind it. The defensive bank appears to join on to a natural rocky outcrop on this side of the promontary.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
In his book The Spirit Paths of Wales (ISBN: 1-85284-289-X) Laurence Main states that, “two cairns stood here until 1910, when Council workmen destroyed the larger one and carted away its stones for road metal”. He also describes a Bronze Age axe-hammer found at the site, made from “spotted blue dolerite from Preseli”.
As ever, Main doesn’t include any of his sources, but I’ve read about the Council worker story somewhere else. Strangely, I discerned two cairns on my visit, so I’m not sure whether the smaller of the two was the ‘destroyed’ cairn of whether there were originally three cairns (probably the former).
In his book A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany (ISBN: 0-300-06331-8) Aubrey Burl alludes to a tale about a ghostly army of horsemen that has been glimpsed riding by the circle.
In his book The Spirit Paths of Wales (ISBN: 1-85284-289-X) Laurence Main describes the site in a way that suggests he travels with a tape measure. He also sheds some light on the meaning of the site’s name.
Maengwyngweddw (White-widow Stone) is a striking white quartz boulder about 3ft high and with a circumference of 6ft 8ins…
In his book The Spirit Paths of Wales (ISBN: 1-85284-289-X) Laurence Main describes Maen Serth:
Maen Serth (Steep Stone) is a prominent standing stone which stands 7ft 2ins high, 6ins thick and 1ft 8ins broad, at an altitude of 15000ft. It was erected in the Bronze Age and had a cross carved on it around AD 800. The Welsh chieftain of Elvel, Einion Clud, was murdered by the English here in a tournament in the late 12th century.
Main writes confidently about this site and others, but doesn’t include any of his sources.
On the BBC web site (see the link below) a short article by Roger Hulm gives a more detailed account of the legend, this time identifying the murderer as Roger Mortimer (a Norman):
The story goes that in the late 12th century, there was a dispute over the land surrounding Rhayader between the Norman ‘Marcher’ Lord, Roger Mortimer, and the Welsh chieftains – Rhys ap Gruffydd and the two brothers, Cadwallon and Einon Clud. During a temporary ‘lull’ in hostilities, at Christmas 1176, these men had gathered at Rhys’ castle to feast and joust.
At the jousting event, the Welshman Einon Clud defeated Roger Mortimer but the Norman was a bad sportsman. He ambushed Einon on the hill above Rhayader and killed him as he was returning home. A short time later, the other brother was also ambushed by Mortimer on the same hill and killed.
It was said that Maen Serth was the place of the double killing which has given another local name to the stone – the ‘Princes’ Stone’.
Text as visited 23rd March 2006.
In his book A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany (ISBN: 0-300-06331-8) Aubrey Burl writes (citing Briggs as his source),
It may be no more than coincidence that the church [Ysbytty Cynfyn] is only 1 and a half miles north Devil’s Bridge over the River Mynach where the Devil was tricked by an old woman who saved her soul by sending her little dog to cross the bridge before her.
I’m inclined to think that it is no more than coincidence, as the connection between Bronze Age Ysbytty Cynfyn and Devil’s Bridge (Pontarfynach) is a bit tenuous. Cope makes a similar connection between the two places, but it’s not clear why.
Four photos of Cronk ny Merriu, along with a description and directions by car, bus and railway. Can’t recommend this web site enough for travel information, although this page is a bit thin on information about the site itself (Cronk ny Merriu I mean).
The book Prehistoric Sites in the Isle of Man, published by Manx National Heritage, gives a good description of Ballakelly:
The site consists of a simple rectangular chamber built of two very large stones with an end wedged between them, and an open on the south-east side. The chamber is exposed to its full height, roughly 3 feet. A kerb of heavy stones, only one of which is missing, is set close to the chamber. The larger kerb stone behind the chamber bears rows of cupmarks.
According to the book the scattered stones to the south east of the chamber (or ‘prone slabs’) have all been moved from elsewhere. The solitary standing stone to the north east of the site is thought to be an original feature.
Visited 27th August 2003: Ballakelly sits in a small circular enclosure in a field adjacent to the A25. Parking is appalling, and the road is relatively busy (for the Isle of Man). We squeezed our little car into a gateway across the road, but it felt temporary, and contributed towards a very brief visit.
The stones that make up the site fall into two distinct groups. The chamber on the north west side of the site, and a scattering of stones on the ground to the south east. When we visited there was quite long grass growing around the stones, which combined with the restrictive perimeter fence made it difficult to figure out. Having read up a bit on the site since our visit, I realise we missed both cup marks and the end of a splitting wedge lodged in one of the scattered stones.
Would have liked more time to figure this one out.
Taken 27th August 2003: The site viewed from the south west, with the chamber to the left.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
A page by David Radcliffe, with three photos and a description on it. One of the photos shows a stone with the end of a splitting wedge lodged in it (which I managed to miss on my visit).
Taken 27th August 2003: The site viewed from the south, with ‘prone slabs’ in the foreground.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 27th August 2003: The rectangular chamber, viewed from the south east.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Here are two snippets of text from the Channel 4 web site describing Oakbank Crannog in the context of the Time Team special about the site, broadcast on 19th April 2004:
Excavation has been going on at the Oakbank site since 1980 largely due to the passion and dedication of Nick Dixon, who runs the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology at Edinburgh University. His wife, Barrie Andrian, shares his enthusiasm for the site, and over the years it has turned into something of a life’s work for the pair of them.
A few years ago, they used their discoveries and understanding from Oakbank to reconstruct a complete crannog at what is now the Scottish Crannog Centre about four miles away. Based entirely on the archaeological deposits found at Oakbank, the reconstruction not only provides the perfect context to the archaeology, but really brings Iron-Age society to life.
Oakbank crannog is completely submerged in the clear waters of Loch Tay. Underwater, the peaty loch bed provides almost perfect preservation conditions, and thus supplies more finds and information than equivalent land archaeology. Previous discoveries at the sites had included a wooden butter dish with butter still in it, bronze pins, floor timbers, small insects, a swan-neck pin, beads, a canoe paddle, woven cloth and cooking utensils. Altogether, the excavations on the site have found the remains of some 200 different plant species, including opium seeds and spelt wheat which previously the Romans were believed to have introduced to Britain.
South African Cave Yields 'Earliest Jewellery'
From an article on BBC News web site by Jonathan Amos :
The oldest pieces of jewellery made by modern humans have emerged in Africa.
Shell beads found in Blombos Cave on the southern tip of the continent are 75,000 years old, scientists say.
The pea-sized items all have similar holes which would have allowed them to be strung together into a necklace or bracelet, the researchers believe.
Visited 26th August 2003: Balladoole hillfort is relatively small, and would in itself be not too spectacular. However, within the boundaries of it’s defences are three other sites (listed below).
Parking and signage are reasonably good, as is access to the fort. There is a maintained path up to the site, and grass cut paths around it’s perimeter. It’s not a long walk to the top, but the views are pretty impressive, both looking inland towards the mountains and out to sea. It’s obviously a good defensive position, as well as a place to be seen from a long way off in the surrounding countryside. Well worth a visit, but not very wheelchair friendly purely because of the gradient.
Visited 26th August 2003: The hillfort has a circular path of cut grass around it. The first thing you’re likely to come to is the Viking ship burial, but if you keep going anti-clockwise you’ll then get to the Bronze Age cist.
Although not as impressive as the Viking ship burial or the relatively modern Keeil, it does represent the oldest evidence of ceremonial activity on the hill. The site is well kept, so there’s no foliage to fight through to get close up. There are excellent views from the cist there are fantastic views across Bay ny Carrickey towards Port St Mary.
Taken 26th August 2003: The cist viewed from north east, with Port St Mary (to the left) and Strandhall (to the right) in the background.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 26th August 2003: The cist viewed from above. The top of the photo is the south western end of the cist (I think).
Image credit: Simon Marshall
There are two bowl barrows at the eastern end of Knowle Hill, at least one of which is prominent. Both barrows were excavated by J H Austen in 1861.
In the eastern barrow (SY94568232) Austen found, a “cremation burial within a cist in association with burnt material and a perforated whetstone” in the barrow. The finds from this excavation are stored at the Dorset County Museum, but I’m guessing not necessarily on display.
The barrow to the west (SY94578236) has a causeway breaking the outer ditch in the north eastern section. As well as Austen’s excavation, this barrow was also excavated by W H Frend (1934-5), and a two phase construction was revealed. A cremation burial was discovered and a “small two-riveted bronze dagger”. In the ditch, two inhumation burials of a later date were found as well as some Romano-British
pottery shards and a fragment of a shale armlet.
My sources for the above are Magic and the Ordnance Survey.
Taken 26th August 2003: The stone viewed from the south.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 26th August 2003: The stone viewed from the nort (or north, north, west to be precise). The road is visible behind the stone, with Port St Mary on the other side of it.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 26th August 2003: The Giant’s Quoiting Stone viewed from the south east.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 26th August 2003: The foot of the Giant’s Quoiting Stone, viewed from the north west, with the road just visible in the background (to the right of the stone). This shot shows the possible packing stone in the foreground, and also gives a good indication the depth of the stone.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 26th August 2003: The Giant’s Quoiting Stone is marked on the Landranger map (not by name, but as Standing Stone), and visible from the road between Port St Mary and Rhenwyllan. It stands in a large field, with no obvious signs of public access.
The stone is much larger than I expected it to be, and quite uniform in shape. There’s a dark band around the lower part of the stone, presumably as a result of being rubbed against by livestock. There’s also a solitary stone at the foot it, that looks like it might plausibly have once been part of the packing material.
Visited 26th August 2003: Cronk Karran is the site I enjoyed the most on Mann. There’s some disagreement as to what it represents, but the favourite theories are hut circle or cairn circle. Although the stones are pretty unassuming, the location and tricky access make it very special.
Following the GPS from the car park we arrived at the cliff top and were very perplexed because the little LCD arrow indicated that the site was out at sea. A large stone wall blocked the immediate view over the cliff, so we moved west along the coastal footpath, over another wall, and got an aerial view of Cronk Karran from the cliff top. The circle is small, and it sits on a shelf below the cliff.
To the east of our vantage point was a strange looking old building (presumably a shelter) with benches in it, and opposite this a gate in the wall that skirts the cliff top. On the gate a large sign read...
CHASMS
WARNING DANGER
PERSONS VISITING THIS AREA DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK AND SHOULD PROCEED WITH CAUTION
MANX MUSEUM & NATIONAL TRUST
This was as close as we felt the kids should get, so I continued on my own. Beyond the gate there were indeed chasms aplenty, and I trod gingerly around them trying to find a way down to the shelf. This wasn’t easy, and the exercise took on the feel of a 1980s computer game without the usual quota of three lives.
After all the trouble getting to the circle, I found it very peaceful once I was there. The situation is exposed to the south, but walled in by cliffs to the north and east. The circle doesn’t appear to have an entrance as such, but there were signs that the ‘wall’ was made up of two rows of stones. Also of note was a small quartz stone incorporated into the wall. I wanted to stay for longer, but with the others waiting for their lunch up top, I had to move on.
I feel obliged to emphasise that Cronk Karran is not easily accessible, and the chasms and cliffs represent a significant danger to anyone visiting. The view from the top of the cliff is very good, so some people will be happy enough to view the circle from afar. If you decide to get closer, please take care.
Taken 26th August 2003: Looking south west, with the ‘wall’ of Cronk Karran in the foreground. This site is not one to visit in dense fog.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 26th August 2003: This is a close-up of the north (east?) side of Cronk Karran, clearly showing how the ‘wall’ is made up of two layers of stones.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 26th August 2003: The site viewed from the south, with the big cliff behind the circle.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 26th August 2003: This is how you’re likely to first see Cronk Karran, from the cliff-top directly to the north.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
This is a searchable, light-weight version of the National Monuments Record (NMR) for Northern Ireland (the equivalent of CARN for Wales or CANMORE for Scotland).
The Giant’s Ring consists of a henge monument, within which are the remains of a tomb. Here’s what the Northern Ireland Sites and Monuments Database has to say about it:
A henge monunent, 180m in diam., enclosed by a bank & inner ditch, with a megalithic tomb E of its centre. Excavation in 1954 showed that the bank is made of gravel, boulders & clay, taken from a shallow scoop in the interior. It is unknown which of the several breaks in the bank are original. The burial chamber is a polygonal space surrounded by 5 large stones, covered by a huge capstone & is probably the remains of a passage tomb. It is part of a ritual complex in this area, including cists, barrows & a huge timber enclosure with structures & burials to NW.
Taken 17th January 2004: The original carved stone from Bryn Celli Ddu, now installed in the National Museum and Galleries of Wales in Cardiff and replaced with a copy. BrigantesNation is pondering the display case in the background.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 17th January 2004: The original carved stone from Bryn Celli Ddu, now installed in the National Museum and Galleries of Wales in Cardiff and replaced with a copy.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 26th August 2003: Meayll from the north east (or thereabouts) with Alfie, Lou and Will on the far side.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 26th August 2003: With the central stone in the foreground, looking approximately north east. I’ve no idea whether the central stone is an original feature or a modern addition.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 26th August 2003: This place is mad. It’s so close to a stone circle, but it ain’t. The setting is spectacular, high above Port Erin with views out to the Calf of Man. There’s a lot of sea visible, and with the crest of the hill on the landward side of the circle it seems reasonable to assume that the site is orientated towards the coast.
As well as being spectacular and special, Meayll is very difficult to do any justice to on ‘film’. It’s definitely one of those optimised for 3D sites, where walking among the stones is the only way to really figure it out. We got a bit of sunshine, and it all felt very good. It goes without saying that Meayll is megalithic Mann royalty. Blinkin’ great!
A word of warning for anyone with limited mobility; the distance from the road to the circle is relatively short, but it’s entirely made up of a steep incline. Not at all wheelchair friendly.
Taken 26th August 2003: One of the T-shaped chambers on the western side of the circle (the road is just visible in the background).
William is skulking in the background (to the left) giving a very false impression of scale (he’s 4 years old).
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 26th August 2003: I found this hole just outside the eastern perimetre of the circle. It looked to me like someone had recently removed the stones (the grass underneath them was healthy). I decided to put them back where they’d come from. I’d be interested to know whether this type of damage reappears at the site.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 26th August 2003: The barrow to the west of the road (I think) complete with cattle. I think what’s left of it is visible as a bump behind the brown cow in the centre of the shot.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 26th August 2003: There are two barrows marked on the Ordnance Survey Landranger map. The easiest to see and get to (so long as you don’t wear shorts because the heather is dense) is to the east of the A27. The grid reference for this is approximately SC232769, and it’s sited on a piece of land with no boundary fence, and apparent open access.
The other barrow is to the west of the road (approximately SC230769), in a fenced off field. From the road it’s tricky to make out, and I’m not entirely sure I’ve photographed the right bump.
Worth stopping off to see if you’re passing through, if only for the view out to sea.
Taken 26th August 2003: This barrow sits to the east of the A27 (the grid reference is approximately SC232769) on a piece of land with no boundary fence, and apparent open access. In the photo the barow is not against the horizon, but just below the hill that is against the horizon (the barrow is covered in heather).
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visted 25th August 2003: After the Braaid we went on to explore St Patrick’s Chair, which is easy enough to find. There’s space to park opposite the footpath, and a sign indicating which way to walk. Just keep heading up the hill, and don’t let the cows intimidate you. The path itself is really a track for vehicles, but still not ideal for visitors in wheelchairs because of the gates (might need a second set of hands) and cow pats.
The stones themselves are interesting, but they don’t look prehistoric. Nice views, but I was rather disappointed by the site itself. This looks to me like a Christian site, and that’s what the sign says. Ho hum.
Taken 25th August 2003: The stones are enclosed in a stock-wire fence.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
This site has been excavated a number of times by Dr Nick Dixon and Barrie Andrian. The nearby Scottish Crannog Centre includes a reconstructed Crannog that is based on the early excavations at Oakbank.
As featured on Time Team in January 2004, here’s what the Channel 4 web site had to say about the site and the programme:
Further excavation on the shore indicates the site of a small ritual henge monument. Complete with entrance facing the loch, the henge contains a stone marker to align the entrance with a landscape feature in the distance where two hills meet. It was later calculated that this point on the skyline would mark the position of the rising sun on the spring and autumn equinoxes.
The RCAHMW record, predating the Time Team excavation, describes the site as a henge, hut circle, barrow or cairn (keeping their options open there):
It measures 12.0m overall and comprises a level, circular platform 7.4m in diameter, surrounded by a ditch 1.1m wide and 0.2m deep, outside which there is a bank 1.2m wide and 0.2m high, revetted externally by a discontinuous line of small horizontal blocks. The bank is broken on the SE, where there is a gap leading to a causeway across the ditch. Both gap and causeway, about 0.6m wide, are slightly mutilated.
As featured on Time Team in January 2004, here’s a snippet from the RCAHMS record for the site:
At the W end of Loch Migdale, some 60 yards from the shore, is an islet which appears to be artificial. It is formed of boulders laid on clay and is some 63’ in diameter. The loch is shallow towards the landward side, but deep on the outer sides. The island is said to have been occupied in 1630.
Preceeding the excitement of the Time Team excavation here’s what the Channel 4 web site had to say about the site and the programme:
Excavating underwater, the Team, including crannog expert Nick Dixon, has to carefully remove sections of the rubble mound. These are outlined by scaffold poles, which act as guides for the limits of the trenches. The Team concentrates on two areas – one about a metre underwater on the perimeter of the site, and the other just centimetres beneath the surface on the main crannog platform. Waterlogged samples of timber planks and stakes are discovered, which are later dated to the Iron Age and, together with charcoal and bone finds, indicate settlement activity.
A detailed page about the site including reconstructive graphics and video. On the same web site there’s a description of the way the site was discovered then excavated.