National Archaeology Days

A couple of days with Manx National Heritage to raise awareness of National Archaeology. Set in and around Cregneash there will be a range of talks and demonstrations about a various sites. Whether it be 5000 years old or 70 years ago, there is a lots of history on a hill in the south of the Isle of Man.

Guided Tours of Meayll Hill
Sat & Sun, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm
The archaeology of this hill top spans over 5000 years. Guided tours will leave outside the Cregneash Village Museum and last for 1 hour. Tours will go on regardless of weather, and suitable footwear should be worn. The walk included a 15 minute each way trek through rough terrain and up a hill.

Metal Detecting
Sat & Sun, 12.30pm - 4pm
Talk to the experts about how to carry out successful and responsible metal detecting on the Isle of Man. Detectors will be available for supervised use.

Landscape Trail Around Cregneash
Sat & Sun, 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm
The Landscape around Cregneash is the result of human activity over 1000s of years. There will be guided tours around the village explaining why the countryside looks the way it does Tours will leave from outside the Cregneash Village Museum entrance and last for 1 hour. Tours will go on regardless of weather.

Archaeology of Thatch
Sat & Sun, 11am, 2pm
Learn about the history and practicalities of thatched roofs, as well as the many materials used. The demonstration will take place in Church Farm's Barn and last for 1 hour.

Buildings Can Tell a Story
Sat & Sun, 12pm, 3pm
Buildings can go through many changes over the years and this is evident in their stone work. A talk at Karran's Croft by a building interpretation expert will tell how time is recorded in stone. Talks last for 1 hour.

Make Your Own Archaeological Artifact
Sat & Sun, Continuous throughout each day.
The people who farmed around the Cregneash area over 5000 years ago, left their own distinctive pottery, known as Meayll Hill. Archaeologists today only find bits of this decorated pottery. Learn the techniques of Neolithic farmers and have a go at making prehistoric pottery. Activity in the scullery of Church Farm and lasts for 15 minutes.

Ancient and Modern
Sat & Sun, 10am - 5pm
A display of ancient objects and their modern equivalents. Compare the old with the new, what was once used and how it has been replaced with different items of today. Display at Crebbin's Cottage.

Building Conservation and Recording
Sat & Sun
Learn about building conservation from the clearing of the site to the drawings and plans for refurbishment. Held at Cummal Beg.

Victorian Antiquarian
Sat, 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm
And old fashioned archaeologist was known as an Antiquarian. What would he make of our interest in the buildings of Cregneash and how we use archaeology today. Held at Harry Kelly's cottage and lasting for 15 minutes.

Hunt the Wells
Sun, 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm
Before there was running water the people of Cregneash used to have wells for fresh water. Find out how many wells were in Cregneash and what they looked like as well as the folklore surrounding them. Starting near Harry Kelly's cottage the tour will take a short walk around the village and last for about 30 minutes.