''Cronk ny Merriu'' ( en, Hill of the Dead) is one of the remains of

promontory forts A promontory fort is a defensive structure located above a steep cliff, often only connected to the mainland by a small neck of land, thus using the topography to reduce the ramparts needed. Although their dating is problematic, most seem to da ...

in the

Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...

. Close to

Port Grenaugh Port Grenaugh is a cove in the SE of the Isle of Man at the foot of Glen Grenaugh, in the parish of Santon, and the mouth of Grace's stream which originates in the Newtown area of the parish by Ballakissack farm. Close by is Cronk ny Merriu - ...

, this site dates back almost 2,000 years. The bank and ditch of

Iron Age The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age (Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostly appl ...

date created a defensive promontory fort at ''Cronk ny Merriu''. Later, a rectangular building of Norse style and layout stood here, part of a system of coastal lookout posts. Several of the lookout posts, especially in Santon, where ''Cronk ny Merriu'' is situated, can be visited using the coastal footpath. All of the posts have a rampart on their vulnerable landward side, and excavations have shown that access to the fort was via a strongly built gate. The

Scandinavians Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Swede ...

who arrived in Mann in the eighth and ninth centuries sometimes re-used these Iron Age promontory forts, often obliterating the old domestic quarters with their characteristic rectangular houses; the fine example at ''Cronk ny Merriu'' has been used as the basis of the reconstruction in the

House of Manannan The House of Manannan is a museum in Peel in the Isle of Man. It is named after the "great mythological sea god" Manannan and covers the island's Celtic, Viking, and Maritime history. History The museum is located in the former Peel railway s ...

Etymology

In the

Manx language Manx ( or , pronounced or ), also known as Manx Gaelic, is a Gaelic language of the insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, itself a branch of the Indo-European language family. Manx is the historical language of the Manx peop ...

(hill) (the dead) means literally 'hill of the dead'. Hill forts in the Isle of Man Historic sites in the Isle of Man Tourist attractions in the Isle of Man History of the Isle of Man {{IsleofMan-geo-stub