Imagine a time long ago. A time of Celtic Christians and Viking invaders. This is Knock-e-Dhooney Keeill. It is a place where ancient history whispers from the stones.
Knock-e-Dhooney Keeill is a significant site. It is located in Andreas on the Isle of Man. The site has been used for ritual purposes for centuries. Archaeological digs have revealed much about this area.
In 1911, the Manx Archaeological Survey investigated the keeill site. P. M. C. Kermode led the investigation. In 1927, Kermode returned to excavate a nearby hilltop mound. This mound held a Viking Age boat burial.
A keeill is a small simple chapel. Most were built between the 6th and 12th centuries. Sadly, most keeills on the Isle of Man are gone. Less than three dozen have remains. Knock-e-Dhooney is one of the best-preserved. It may date back to 400-600 AD. The exact construction timeline is unknown.
The walls are made of beach boulders and surface stones. They are about 1.1 meters thick. The keeill is small. It measures 9.7 meters by 8.2 meters inside. The entrance was at the west end. Carved stones may have been used for a door.
The altar remains against the east wall. It sits on a cobbled floor. The altar includes a large slab. It measures 0.7 meters by 0.4 meters by 0.05 meters. Two side slabs support it. The altar is only 0.6 meters high. Kermode thought a portable altar might have sat on the slab. Over 100 white quartz pebbles were found around the altar. These may have been prayer offerings.
Just west of the Keeill stood a Manx-mudstone pillar. It had no markings at first glance. When raised, it was a bilingual memorial stone. The Latin inscription reads: “Ammecati filius Rocati hic iacit”. This means “Ammecatos son of Rocatus lies here.” The Ogham inscription is damaged. It is hard to read. The stone is now in the Manx Museum.
During the 1911 dig, a broken boulder with a carved cross was found. It is a plain cross with open ends connected by a ring. It is now housed in Kirk Andreas Parish Church.
About 300 meters southeast of the Keeill is a hilltop. In 1927, Kermode excavated a large mound there. He discovered a Viking ship burial from 900-950 AD. The timber had rotted away. About 300 iron rivets remained. They showed the boat was 8.5-9 meters long and 1.8-2.4 meters wide.
A Viking man was buried there. He wore a cloak. He was buried with domestic items. These included fishing gear, a cloak-pin, and a bowl. A smith’s hammer, tongs, and nails suggest he was a blacksmith. A sword, shield, axe, and spear were also found. The remains of a horse and a dog were also present. He was likely a prominent member of his community. This is indicated by his grave goods.
The burial was pagan. Yet, it was near the keeill. There were no human sacrifices unlike the Balladoole burial. This suggests a shift away from Viking beliefs.
Knock-e-Dhooney Keeill stands as a testament. It reflects centuries of history and cultural change. It is a place where you can almost hear the echoes of the past.