Whispers of the past echo around us here at Cronk Bouyr. What does Cronk mean? It means hill. It is more than just a geographical feature. It is a landmark steeped in history and shrouded in mystery.
Culture Vannin’s interactive map helps us pronounce Manx place names. The map is part of Culture Vannin’s offering for those who want to learn Manx.
Imagine farmers unearthing secrets buried for millennia. That is the story of similar sites across the Isle of Man. At The Cronk, Upper Lherghydhoo, Mr. Ian Parker discovered fragments of sandstone in his field. This led to the discovery of a cist constructed of red Peel sandstone. The sandstone must have been brought to the area from Peel. It was specifically for this burial.
The cist contained an inverted Food Vessel Urn. Cremated remains were also inside. Accompanying the remains were two bone bodkins. There was also a bone pin and two bone beads. Radiocarbon dating placed these remains between 1882-1641 calBC.
Sheila Cregeen returned to the site. She aimed to look at the pit that the cist had been placed within. She wanted to understand whether the cist was the primary burial. Instead, she discovered a secondary burial next to the cist. It was a small pit. It held an upright undecorated Urn. Cremated remains were inside. Some fragments of charcoal were also found. Also there were two clay beads and an unworked flint chip.
Prof. Etienne Rynne directed an excavation. He wanted to establish how many burials were within the mound. He wanted to determine the order in which they occurred. He opened multiple excavation trenches across the area. He discovered another two burials. He also established the original area of the mound.
The third burial consisted of a Cordoned Urn. Some cremated remains were with it. The Urn had not survived well. It had been disturbed and scattered. There was also a leaf-shaped flint blade. A burnt plano-convex flint knife accompanied it. The flint knife may have been burnt on the pyre with the body. The Urn was placed on top of a cup-marked slate slab. Cup-marks are a form of rock art. They consist of small hollows carved into the rock.
Prof. Rynne discovered a further concentration of cremated remains. It was in the eastern part of the mound. There were two small fragments of bronze. This was almost certainly a fourth burial. It was accompanied by a bronze blade. The burial had been disturbed. Probably by ploughing.
These discoveries enhance our understanding of Cronk Bouyr. They show how ancient people honored their dead. They tell tales of rituals and beliefs. They connect us to ancestors who walked this land long before us.
So, as you stand on Cronk Bouyr. Remember the hands that shaped this landscape. Consider the lives that unfolded here. Feel the weight of history beneath your feet. This is not just a hill. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Isle of Man.