Billown Standing Stones & Mini-Henge

MAJOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE — Bournemouth University excavated extensively at Billown, revealing a 'mini-henge' (tiny circular ditch and bank, 1.6m across), standing stones, and Bronze Age burials. The Billown landscape contains multiple prehistoric features over a wide area. Important caveat: some IoM standing stones were erected by farmers as animal rubbing posts — a Billown stone had post-medieval pottery beneath it. WHY: Despite the complexity, Billown is one of IoM's most archaeologically significant prehistoric landscapes. The university excavations barely scratched the surface. Fields in the Billown area between Castletown and Malew have produced material spanning Neolithic to Bronze Age. The 'Billown Stone Circle' marked on old maps was probably a burial cairn kerb, but the area is rich regardless.