Cross-slab

The National Monuments Service's description

In the centre of a graveyard (CO010-003002-), to the NE of an early-medieval church (CO010-003004-). This upright slab (H 1.7m; Wth 0.94m) bears a ringed cross in low relief on the W face, and a Latin cross, partially inscribed and partially in relief, on the E face (Crawford 1912, 230). The ringed cross covers the full width of the slab, though there is a very short terminal outside the ring on the N side; the terminal at the top ends where the stone is broken off; the shaft (L 0.61m) extends below the present ground level. The width of the band forming the ring and cross shaft is c. 0.14m. The Latin cross on the E face (H 1.01m; Wth 0.8m; Wth of shaft c. 0.25m) is formed by the relatively crude hacking out of the angles of the cross to leave it in relief. The slab was re-set by the National Monuments Service in 1995. It was examined by Rose Cleary and its base excavated in 1995 (Cleary 2000, 40-1). She noted plough marks on the slab, suggesting that it was once recumbent in a nearby field. Cleary also noted that the Latin cross is similar to the cross incised on the back of a nearby gravestone, and concludes that it may be 'the result of 'folk art rather than an original early Christian period motif' (ibid.)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

References

Crawford, H.S. 1912 A descriptive list of early cross-slabs and pillars. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 42, 217-44.