Knock y Doonee#Knock y Doonee Keeill

Two distinct archaeological sites have been excavated at Knock y Doonee. The Keeill site was investigated in 1911 by the Manx Archaeological Survey, led by P. M. C. Kermode. In 1927 Kermode, now director of the Manx Museum,{{Cite web|title=Philip Moore Callow Kermode, 1855-1932|url=http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/people/antiqarn/pmck.htm|access-date=6 December 2020|website=A Manx Notebook}} returned to Knock y Doonee to excavate the hill-top mound some 300m away within which a Viking Age boat burial and associated grave goods were discovered.

The remains of an ancient keeill were discovered at this site. A keeill is a small simple chapel, most of which were built between the 6th and 12th centuries on the Isle of Man.Lowe, Christopher Edmund (1988). [http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1361/1/1361_v1.pdf?EThOS%20(BL) Early Ecclesiastical Sites in the Northern Isles and Isle of Man: An Archaeological Field Survey] (PDF) (PhD thesis). University of Durham. p. 3. Most of the keeills on the Isle of Man have now been destroyed or lost—there may have been over three hundred but now less than three dozen have upstanding remains, Knock y Doonee is one of the best-preserved of these. The keeill is thought to have a very early origin, dating possibly to 400–600{{nbsp}}AD.,{{Cite web|date=26 May 2016|title=Keeills and Cake; Knock-e-Dhooney, Andreas|url=https://manxkeeills.blog/2016/05/26/keeills-and-cake-knock-e-dhooney/|access-date=6 December 2020|website=Manx Keeills}} but it is unknown how many times or when it may have been rebuilt or improved.

The site was investigated by the Manx Archaeological Survey under P. M. C. Kermode in 1911.Manx Archaeological Survey, Third Report (1911), 23-29. The walls were constructed from beach boulders and surface stones, and with an average thickness of 1.1{{nbsp}}m. Like many keeills, the structure was small, measuring 9.7{{nbsp}}m × 8.2{{nbsp}}m internally. The entrance door was located at the west end. Carved socket stones may have been used for a door.

The remains of the altar were found in-situ against the east wall on a cobbled floor. The altar was made up of a large slab measuring 0.7{{nbsp}}m × 0.4{{nbsp}}m × 0.05{{nbsp}}m which balanced on two side slabs.{{Cite web|title=Knock y Doonee Keeill|url=http://imuseum.im/search/collections/places/mnh-site-213980.html|access-date=6 December 2020|website=iMuseum}} The altar was relatively low, standing at only 0.6{{nbsp}}m in height. Kermode suggested that a portable altar may have been placed on top of the slab. Over 100 white quartz pebbles were discovered around the altar, which were possibly votive or prayer offerings.

{{main|Knock y Doonee Ogham Stone}}

Just West of the Keeill a Manx-mudstone ('Manx slate') pillar stood in the ground, with no visible markings but obviously erected by hand of man. When raised, it was found to be a bilingual early memorial stone, the wrong way up. The face inscription in Latin reads Ammecati filius Rocati hic iacit ("Ammecatos son of Rocatus lies here"). However, the Ogham down the edge inscription cannot be read with certainty as it has been badly damaged. It is currently housed in the Manx Museum.Manx Archaeological Survey, Third Report (1911), 26-29.{{Cite journal|last=Kermode|first=P M C|date=1911|title=Discovery of Bi-Lingual Inscription at Knock-y-Doonee, Andreas|url=|journal=Proceedings of the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society|volume=1|issue=7|pages=366, 411–413|via=}}

During the 1911 excavation, a broken boulder with a carved cross on it was discovered.{{Cite web|title=Knock y Doonee Cross Slab|url=https://www.imuseum.im/search/place_record/view?id=mnh-site-213509&tab=places&from=0&term=knock+y+doonee&size=20&sort=&filter=&view=&images=&ttmgp=0&rfname=&rlname=&machine=&race=&raceyear=&linked=0&pos=1|access-date=6 December 2020|website=iMuseum}}Manx Archaeological Survey, Third Report (1911), p25 & fig 25 on p27. It is a plain cross with open ends that are connected by a ring. It is currently housed in Kirk Andreas Parish Church.

In autumn 1927 P. M. C. Kermode excavated a large grass covered burial mound on a hilltop some 300 m SE of the Keeill. A Viking ship burial dating to 900–950{{nbsp}}AD was discovered. Although almost all of the timber from the original vessel has long rotten away, some 300 iron rivets were still in place, and their position showed that the boat was between 8.5-9{{nbsp}}m long and 1.8-2.4{{nbsp}}m wide.{{Cite book|last=Adams|first=Max|title=Ælfred's Britain: War and Peace in the Viking Age|publisher=Head of Zeus|year=2017|isbn=978-1-78408-030-3|location=London|oclc=987328989}}

A Viking, presumed to be a man, was buried there. He was wrapped in a cloak and was accompanied by many grave goods. He was buried with several domestic items such as fishing gear, a cloak-pin, and a bowl. The smith's hammer, tongs and nails that were buried with him may indicate that he was a blacksmith.{{Cite web|date=2003|title=Vikings in Mann|url=https://manxnationalheritage.im/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Vikings-in-Mann-Teachers-Guide.pdf|access-date=6 December 2020|website=Manx National Heritage}} Additionally, a sword, shield, axe and a spear were uncovered.{{Cite web|title=Knock e Dooney Ship Burial|url=https://www.imuseum.im/search/collections/places/mnh-site-214020.html|access-date=6 December 2020|website=iMuseum}} The remains of a horse and a dog also were found to accompany the burial. The man was most likely a prominent member of his community due to the quality of his grave goods and the elaborate burial that was given to him.{{Cite journal|date=2014|editor-last=Gardeła|editor-first=Leszek|editor2-last=Larrington|editor2-first=Carolyne|title=Viking Myths and Rituals on the Isle of Man|url=https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/csva/documents/lmfpublications/lmf1-isleofman,vikingmythsandrituals.pdf|journal=Languages, Myths and Finds|volume=1|pages=32}}

Although the burial was certainly pagan, it was within close sight of the nearby keeill. There were also no human sacrifices, which was present at the older Balladoole Viking boat burial.Shane, McLeod (2018). "Human Sacrifice in Viking Age Britain and Ireland". Australian Early Medieval Association: 76. These factors may be a sign that there was a gradual move away from traditional Viking beliefs and practices during this period.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.imuseum.im/search/place_record/view?id=mnh-site-213509&tab=places&from=0&term=knock+y+doonee&size=20&sort=&filter=&view=&images=&ttmgp=0&rfname=&rlname=&machine=&race=&raceyear=&linked=0&pos=1 Interactive 3D model] of Knock y Doonee stone cross slab
• [https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/knock-y-doonee-ogham-stone-manx-cross-5-bc1be376180c4d118d964bdfcd9b06a3 Interactive 3D model] of Knock y Doonee ogham Stone

Category:History of the Isle of Man

Category:Keeills

Category:Historic sites in the Isle of Man