Concerns statue plans will impact Manx archaeology

Concerns have been expressed about the archaeological impact of erecting a statue near Tynwald Hill of an 11th Century Manx Viking ruler.

Plans were submitted last month for an illuminated sculpture, nearly 8ft (more than 2m) in height, depicting Godred "King Orry" Crovan.

Manx National Heritage (MNH) has requested the application be deferred until an investigation into the statue's likely visual and archaeological impacts can be properly assessed.

In a letter to the planning committee, MNH's inspector of ancient monuments Andrew Johnston said the plans for St John's would have a "substantive archaeological impact".

The landscape around Tynwald Hill was "steeped in ritual and religious activity stretching back more than 3,000 years," said Mr Johnston.

He pointed to the fact that Viking age burial sites, a Christian medieval cross, medieval assembly mounds, and religious sites both modern and medieval had been discovered in the area, either above ground or buried.

Therefore the "potential for further significant discoveries is evident", said Mr Johnston.

The conservationist said a large statue would require "ground disturbance" for the construction of its foundation, the creation of a plinth, paving, and the provision of a buried electrical supply.

All of these would "inevitably have a substantive archaeological impact", added Mr Johnston.

Suggested mitigation measures could include a geophysical survey to identify the presence of burial and archaeological remains, test excavations, and the "fine-tuning" of the statue's precise location.

Mr Johnston argued these measures should be done before the application can even be considered.

King Orry was an 11th Century Viking warrior who made three attempts to capture the Isle of Man. He ultimately reigned for 16 years.

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