Balladoole, Castletown, United Kingdom

Just outside of Castletown, Balladoole is one of the Isle of Man’s most impressive ancient monuments.

Balladoole has been the site of many excavations that have revealed a number of significant finds including prehistoric flints, Bronze Age burials, Iron Age earthworks and early Christian lintel graves.

A Viking boat burial which dates back to between 850-950 AD was discovered in 1945 by a German refugee and a team from the internment camps based on the Island. The group were originally looking for an Iron Age hill fort but found the burial instead, lying within early Christian lintel graves, which contained a 36ft long Viking ship and the bodies of a man and woman.

In 1918, an ancient Keeill chapel dating between 900AD and 1000AD and a Bronze Age grave dating to 10000 BC were also discovered at the Balladoole site in an area now known as Chapel Hill.

Information boards are provided next to each section of the site and for more information on the history of the site as well as dioramas of the burial and artifacts from the excavation, visit the Viking Gallery in the Manx Museum in Douglas.

References:

Visit Isle of Man

User Reviews

Juan McGuinness (2 years ago)
Very underwhelming site. Nice views.

David Radcliffe (2 years ago)
Better parking needed. A bit muddy. Impressive views.

Zobo 75 (3 years ago)
A 10th century AD Viking boat burial which dates back to between 850AD and 950AD. Lying within early Christian lintel graves was a 36ft long Viking ship and the bodies of a man and woman. In 1918, an ancient Keeill chapel dating between 900AD and 1000AD and a Bronze Age grave dating to 1000 BC were also discovered at the Balladoole site in an area now known as Chapel Hill.

Daz Aylward (DarrenA) (4 years ago)
Interesting iron age hill fort and Viking ship burial. A short walk from a small gate and lay-by for perhaps 3 cars.

Charles Sherran (4 years ago)
Lovely views

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