Northwest Europe, 05 Britain, Associated Islands: Isle of Man

During the Ice Age (2580-11.7 kya) the sea-levels were lower because more of Earth’s water was locked in the ice. When the ice began to retreat it left the Isle of Man/Mann on a plain (land bridge) between Cumbria (NW England) and County Down (Northern Ireland), which Mesolithic hunter-gatherers could have used to reach Man. Later, around 6500-6200 BC, the rising seas isolated Man from Ireland and Britain.

The dating of burnt hazelnut shells found at Cass ny Hawin, Malew, near Ronaldsway, suggests a Mesolithic presence there between 6900 and 6240 BC. During some construction work associated with the lengthening of the runway of Ronaldsway Airport, the remains of a Mesolithic house was discovered (Cass ny Hawin II), dated to 8200-7950 BC.

As elsewhere in Atlantic coastal areas the early Neolithic on Man is defined by the building of megalithic monuments, e.g. the Cashtal yn Ard (‘Castle of the Heights’), Maughold; a chambered tomb; the Meayll (or Mull Hill) Circle, Rushen, a chambered cairn; King Orry’s Grave, Laxey, the largest megalithic tomb on the island and the Ballaharra Stones, German, a two-chamber burial ground.

The later Neolithic on Man is defined by the Ronaldsway culture (late Neolithic-3rd millennium BC) on Malew, known only from Man, from the excavation of a Neolithic house at Ronaldsway Airport. The culture is characterised by jars called Ronaldsway pots, stone axes with roughened butts, and unusual flint tools. North of Tynwald Hill, German, the ‘Giant’s Grave’ is a Bronze Age burial mound dated c.1000 BC.

During the Iron Age, large hillforts, e.g. South Barrule, Patrick, appeared on hill summits and smaller promontory forts, e.g. Cronk ny Merriu (‘Hill of the Dead’), Santon, along coastal cliffs, and large timber-framed roundhouses, e.g. the Braaid, Marown, in river valleys.

There was no Roman occupation of the Isle Man and though Roman coins have been found on the island their significance is debated. The Romans left Britain in 410.