'A geophysical assessment of a short-horned cairn tomb at Ballafayle, Isle of Man, and a research assessment of its chronological and typological position in the Irish Sea region'
Date(s): April 2001
Creator(s): Mundin, Andrew
Scope & Content: Illustrated BSc (Hons) Archaeology dissertation submitted to Bournemouth University. Using three different geophysical techniques (resistivity, magnetometry and magnetic susceptibility) the author set out to critically assess PMC Kermode's 1926 observations and interpretation of the Ballafayle tomb. He concludes that Kermode did not fully understand the monument. Mundin posits the theory that Ballafayle contains several features from different definable structures with the Neolithic phase of the monument a contender for inclusion in the Carlingford culture. He dismisses the previous connection by similarity between Ballafayle and Cashtal yn Ard. Further work is recommended in order to evaluate the tombs which would assist study of the remaining long barrows on the Isle of Man, especially at Kew Giants Grave. The final recommendation reads as follows, ' If another geophysical survey was granted at Ballafayle, along with studying the surrounding dry-stone walls in the area, it might be useful to survey the Quaker burial site. Although this would contain data from the 17th century keeil site, it could also contain anomalies associated with the Neolithic monument, now that the front of the monument has been recognised as possibly extending further north-west. However, there is at present too much undergrowth in this vital area of investigation, so further study should concentrate on removing this in order to ascertain the existence of more stone associated with the left-hand side of the cairn. Manx Heritage would only grant an excavation of this area if they thought that this action seemed fitting.'
Language: English
Extent: 1 volume
Physical description: paper
Item name: dissertation
Collection: Manuscript Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: MS 11258
Record class: Private
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