Archaeology

Items

Maughold Church Cross Slab
A large rectangular slab carved on each face with elaborate interlace celtic cross and animal and human figures. It was found during the 18th century.  It measures 277 centimetres x 58.5 centimetres x 20 centimetres thick.
Maughold Church Cross Slab
A small wheel-headed slab carved with a cross on both faces with ring-chain and plait. It was found circa 1860.  It measures 30.5 centimetres x 23 centimetres x 7.5 centimetres thick.
Maughold Church Cross Slab
A slab with a wheel-headed cross consisting of a plain cross patee with a broad circle (Manx Cross No. 70).  It measures 126 centimetres high x 76 centimetres diameter and 8 centimetres thick.
Maughold Church Green Calvary Stone
The site of a post-medieval stone outside the entrance to Maughold parish church.
Maughold Church Green Mounting Block
A mounting block outside Maughold parish churchyard.
Maughold Church Green Sundial
A sundial outside the entrance to Maughold parish church.
Maughold Churchyard Burial
'Old swords and daggers' were dug up in Maughold Churchyard about 10 metres southwest of the church.  The only extant fragment is a portion of the hilt end of a Jan Petersen L (Wheeler V) type sword, 16.3 centimetres long (dated to about 900 AD) with pommel knob missing.  The find probably represents a Viking burial in a Christian churchyard.  It was presented to the Society of Antiquities, Scotland by J.R. Oswald in 1824 who stated that it was dug up 'many years ago' and re-discovered by him in the church circa 1816. It is now in the National Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh (Reg. No. LB 6).
Maughold Churchyard Fort
There is a supposition that St Maughold's parish church stands on the site of an Iron Age or Roman fort. No evidence of such a fort has been confirmed.
Maughold Cross Slab
This slender slab is carved on each face with a 'Celtic' cross and circle, and a long tapering shaft. The cross has a lined border, the circle has a moulding in relief, and there is a small, incised ring in the centre.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 108)
The broken shaft of a cross, found in 1900 in foundations at the north-west corner of the church. One face is decorated with a fine example of ring-chain design bordered by incised lines. The other face is decorated with a panel of well-executed double-twist and diamond-shaped rings, with pellets used to fill gaps in the design.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 11)
This slab was found in the churchyard. It bears a simple plain, linear cross incised on one face.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 114)
This small cross was found built into the masonry of the west gable bell turret during repairs to the church between 1857 and 1865. It is a small wheel-headed slab bearing a delicate carving on both faces of a cross set in a ring. On one face is an equal-limbed cross and circle which sits on a shaft with chamfered edges and decorated with finely engraved ring-chain. The ends of the cross limbs are occupied by square panels of plaitwork while the arcs of the circle bear plaits-of-three and of four, some ending in serpents' heads. The other face shows a cross with shaft in relief, bordered by cable moulding and decorated with a plait-of-eight. The ends of the limbs, projecting slightly beyond the circles, are decorated with panels of plaitwork as on the other face and in the centre is in incised ring; the circle connecting the limbs is bordered, and ornamented with step-pattern.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 149)
This tiny fragment was found in the south wall of the churchyard. It bears one arm of a cross set in a circle. The arm is joined by a short arc of the circling ring, which is filled with a double beaded plait-of-six. The arm is completely filled with a field of intricately looped rings, and is a remarkable piece of craftsmanship.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 169)
This broken slab was found in the churchyard in 1948. One face bears the remains of a square-armed cross with sunken recesses between each arm. A square central panel contains a Latin inscription which translates, '(In the name of) Jesus Christ, Branhui led off water to this place'. The other face bears a simple compass-arc cross within a double circle and two graffito inscriptions. The first is in Latin and the second comprises possible runes and a small knot motif.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 172)
This slab was found in the 1920s in the ruins of an old building to the east of the old vicarage. It bears an incised, equal-armed plain cross at the head of the slab.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 175)
This slab was found in use as a flagstone in a cottage in Maughold village in 1965. It bears a runic inscription on one face which translates, 'Cuan son of Mailb...ak...made this gravestone in memory of his wife'.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 190)
This slab was found in the churchyard in 1983. One face bears three incised circles, all compass-drawn. One circle encloses a 'cross patte', also compass-drawn.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 21)
This small broken slab was found during excavation by the Manx Archaeological Survey in 1912, outside of the doorway in the west wall of the Eastern Keeill (IOMHER 0580.00). An equal-limbed cross within a rectangular panel is incised on one face.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 24)
This slab was found re-used in a lintel grave close to the North Keeill (IOMHER 0583.00) in 1894. A boldly cut cross set within a circular frame is carved near the top of one face. The lower limb extends well below the ring to form a cross-shaft.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 32)
This broken and incomplete slab was found during repair work to the church in 1900. The surviving carving shows part of a narrow shaft and right arm of a cross.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 39)
This slab was found in 1900 close to the east gable of the church. It bears a wide equal-limbed cross in outline set in an oval panel on each face.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 40)
This large, rough slab was found at Keeill Woirrey in upper Cornaa (IOMHER 0619.00). It bears on one face a pecked cross in outline set within an irregular oval ring.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 41)
This broken slab was found in 1900 towards the west end of the south wall of the church. It bears on one face part of a regular curved cross set within a circle. In the top right-hand corner is the only Manx example of the Greek letter 'Omega', which would have been paired with an 'Alpha' in the top left of the complete panel. Its proportions - when complete - suggest that it may possibly have been an altar front. The use of the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet - 'the beginning and the end' - is a common Early Christian motif.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 43)
This broken slab was found whilst gravedigging in 1906 close to the Middle Keeill (IOMHER 0582.00). It bears the remains of a geometric, compass-drawn 'cross pattee' set in a circular frame. Across the end of the lower limb are four characters in Anglian runes, preceded by traces of others, suggesting the name (Blak)gmon.
Maughold Cross Slab (Manx Cross 48)
This fragment of a carefully shaped slab was found in 1876 re-used as a lintel in an outbuilding west of the churchyard. One face bears a complicated interlace of six-armed hexafoil shapes set within a double circular ring. Below, a small incised cross with serifs has been added.