Manx National Heritage is embarking on a ‘ground-breaking’ project to help preserve Manx history.

It's working with Lancaster University, the University of Southampton and Knowledge Integration to create 3D digital images of all 210 Manx crosses.

The images will capture the current physical condition of the crosses and inform plans for future preservation.

Kirsty Neate is the Head of Professional Services – she says: “For the purposes of conservation, the highest possible accuracy and precision is needed.

“Recent advances in laser scanning have, for the first time, made this possible.

“Detailed scans will capture the surface of the crosses to a resolution of one tenth of a millimetre.

“Scanning the crosses posed a number of challenges including difficulties of access in remote locations and cramped display conditions.

“The objects themselves are mostly dark in colour which makes scanning much harder and the detail we are aiming to capture can elude the untrained eye.”

Some of the stones are carved with letters of the Ogham, Runic and Latin alphabets, while others include personal and place names and scenes from Christian and Norse mythology. 

The digital versions of the crosses will be accessible via the IMusuem from early next year.