Isle of Mann

The northwest isles of Europe make for great settlements for any group focused on maritime trade and living off the sea.
Image from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kingdom_of_Mann_and_the_Isles-en.svg

Ronaldsway Plaque from the Isle of Mann - these were handheld baseplates for some craft such as leather working. They mostly show random scratchings although 1 does show a zig zag pattern. This was one of five found during excavations at Ronaldsway in the 1940s and is about four thousand years old. From https://www.imuseum.im/search/collections/objects/mnh-museum-233278.html

Northwest Isles

(December 11, 2024)

The Neolithic Period marked the coming of farming, improved stone tools and pottery. During this period megalithic monuments began to appear around the island. Examples are found at Cashtal yn Ard near Maughold, King Orry's Grave in Laxey, Meayll Circle near Cregneash, and Ballaharra Stones in St John's. 

The Iron Age was marked by large hill forts appearing on hills and smaller promontory forts along the coastal cliffs. This was also the time when large timber-framed roundhouses were built. 

Also found on the Isle of Mann is the Ronaldsway Material Culture which is unique to the Isle of Man. Sometimes referred to as Manx Ronaldsway, it dates from the later Neolithic and from the third millennium BC, but more precise dating is a matter of debate.

The culture, known only from the Isle of Man, is named after the archaeological remains of a settlement excavated at Ronaldsway Airport (now the Isle of Man Airport) in 1939 during a Second World War expansion, where a large quantity of material was found. These remains were later dated to between 2,200 and 1,900 BC.

The culture is characterized by deep jars called Ronaldsway-style pots, stone axes with butts which have been roughened, and unusual flint tools; where it meets other cultures there have been finds of shared monuments, including stone circles, passage and entrance graves, and henges. It also has structures entirely of its own. The culture's typical polished axe has been met with nowhere else and shows an especially marked insularity.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Isle_of_Man

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronaldsway_culture

Andrew Meirion Jones, Marta Diaz-Guardamino (January 2017)  From Artefact Biographies to ‘Multiple Objects’: A New Analysis of the Decorated Plaques of the Irish Sea Region. Norwegian Archaeological Review 49(2). Online at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307608187_From_Artefact_Biographies_to_'Multiple_Objects'_A_New_Analysis_of_the_Decorated_Plaques_of_the_Irish_Sea_Region

Isle of Mann Museum / iMuseum at: https://www.imuseum.im/ This is the online service of Manx National Heritage at:  https://manxnationalheritage.im/collections/library-and-archives/

Some photos of the crosses today: https://manxvikings.jimdofree.com/galleries/kirk-michael-crosses/

Osruth's Cross Slab Drawing

(December 11, 2024) From iMuseum

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Measurements: artwork: 119 cm x 58 cm

Object name: cross drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/107

Druian's Cross Slab

(December 11, 2024) From iMuseum

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Measurements: artwork: 104 cm x 45.5 cm

Object name: cross drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/118A

Joalf's Cross Slab

(December 11, 2024) From iMuseum

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Measurements: artwork: 247 cm x 72 cm

Object name: cross drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/132A

Gaut's Cross Slab

(December 11, 2024) From iMuseum

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Measurements: artwork: 137 cm x 58 cm

Object name: cross drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/101B

Arinbjork's Cross Slab

(December 11, 2024) From iMuseum

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Measurements: artwork: 148 cm x 58 cm

Object name: cross drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/131A

Andreas Cross Slab

(December 11, 2024) From iMuseum

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Measurements: artwork: 188 cm x 64 cm

Object name: cross drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/99A

Blackman's Cross Slab

(December 11, 2024) From iMuseum

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Measurements: artwork: 121 cm x 44 cm

Object name: cross drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/42

Irneit's Cross Slab

(December 11, 2024) From iMuseum

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Measurements: artwork: 70.5 cm x 23 cm

Object name: cross drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/47ii

Roskitil's Cross Slab

(December 11, 2024) From iMuseum

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Measurements: artwork: 73 cm x 53 cm

Object name: cross drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/138B

Thor's Cross Slab 1

(December 11, 2024) From iMuseum

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Measurements: overall: 153 cm x 63 cm;artwork: 144 cm x 54 cm

Object name: cross drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/124Bi

Thor's Cross Slab 2

(December 11, 2024) From iMuseum

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Measurements: overall: 153 cm x 63 cm;artwork: 144 cm x 54 cm

Object name: cross drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/124B

Mal Lumkun's Cross Slab With Ogham Upper Left

(December 11, 2024) From iMuseum

Date made: ?1906

Artist: Kermode, Philip Moore Callow

Measurements: artwork: 176 cm x 45 cm

Object name: cross drawing

Collection: Art Collection

ID number: 2006-0295/130B