A human skull and the remains of a building from the Neolithic period have been unearthed at Ronaldsway airport in a find described as 'probably of European significance'.

The 'sunken feature' building has evidence of human habitation, and there are funerary and mortuary finds, including stone cairns built over the top of commemoration pyres.

The 5,000 year old remains were discovered within a 60 metre stretch of the proposed parallel taxiway extension in the north eastern area of the airfield.

Archeologists from Oxford were already on site after a geophysical survey in advance of the runway extension works revealed there were signs of buried remains.

Other artefacts found include flint flakes and tools, as well as fragments of ancient pottery vessels.

Investigations are expected to continue until the end of next month and the rest of the taxiway has been returned to the contractors so construction work can continue.

The finds were revealed when the topsoil was stripped away and relate to what is known as the 'Ronaldsway Neolithic House', which was identified in 1943 following excavations for the original airfield.