Archaeological excavations are continuing at Rushen Abbey. Staff and students from the Centre for Manx Studies are carrying out the investigations on behalf of Manx National Heritage.

Allison Fox, Curator: Archaeology for Manx National Heritage said:

"The excavations on this important site have been ongoing for a number of years, but visitors to Rushen Abbey this year will see a big difference. The area that has been subject to excavation since 2000 will be finished and will be filled in and landscaped over next winter. Intensive research in to the finds from this area is being carried out and we hope to have some interesting reports on the findings.

"A new area of excavation has been opened, much nearer the heart of the abbey. Placed over the remains of one of the original walls of the abbey complex, the new trench should provide exciting insights into the abbey when it was in use from the 12th century."

As ever, visitors to Rushen Abbey will be able to see the archaeology as it happens and this year, there will be on-site guides to the excavations. Volunteers from the Friends of Manx National Heritage will lead short talks on the excavations at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm every Thursday and Sunday in July.

Allison said:

"We are very lucky and very grateful to have such a talented group of volunteers to help explain what is happening to the visitors. MNH are seeking to enhance the understanding and interpretation of Rushen Abbey and this means having excavations. These also act as a training exercise for students and we are very happy to be able to offer this facility. We are also very aware of the huge amount of interest in both archaeology in general and the excavations at Rushen Abbey in particular, so having a group of volunteers available to talk to the public and act as intermediaries for the archaeologists will enable Manx National Heritage to keep everybody up to date with the archaeological work."

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