Knock e Dooney Ship Burial

Period: Early Medieval

NGR Easting: 240660

NGR Northing: 502080

Description: Viking Age ship burial. The prominent, grass-covered burial mound at Knock e Dooney was excavated by Philip Kermode in 1927. The mound was 15.5m in diameter and 2.4m high. It proved to contain a Viking boat burial of 900-950 AD, the boat being defined by about 300 iron rivets, most having decayed wood attached to them. The positions of the rivets showed that the boat was 8.5-9m long and 1.8-2.4m wide.

The body had been laid in the boat wrapped in a cloak, and accompanied by a sword, shield and spear. Domestic articles such as fishing gear, tools including a hammer and tongs, knives and harness links were laid in the stern. A horse and a dog also accompanied the burial.

The site is recorded in the Castle Rushen Papers in a document dated 1627 as both the Hill of the Day Watch and the Hill or Port of the Night Watch for the parish of Andreas.

View map location on Archaeology Data Service

Site & Monument Type: ship burial

Category: National Monuments Record: Statutory Ancient Monuments

Site ID number: 0344.00