Cross-slab

The National Monuments Service's description

Roughly centrally located in the graveyard (GA021-026026-) on High Island. Recorded by Fisher(2014, 206, no. 11, Fig. 7.2), this tapering garnet mica-schist cross-slab (H 0.62m; Wth 0.39m; T 0.06m) forms the footstone of Grave 5, which contained the earliest human remains on site, dating from the late 9th to the late 10th century. It was found in situ but was probably reused. Only its E face is decorated. It bears an expansional cross in relief with a raised central roundel and roughly D-shaped terminals. Incised grooves in the upper and lower terminals and horizontal bars in the side terminals are suggestive of an anthropomorphic figure. The roundel is notched at the angles to form an equal-armed cross with expanded arms and a linear cross is superimposed on this. This cross-slab is now in the care of the OPW (Athenry depot, Co. Galway, see GA084-151015-). A replica has been placed on site. (White Marshall and Rourke 2000, 152-3, no. 20)

Compiled by: Olive Alcock

Date of upload: 19 November 2015

References

White Marshall, J. and Rourke, G.D. 2000 High Island: an Irish monastery in the Atlantic. Dublin. Town House and Country House.

Fisher, I. (revised by Scally, G. and Maddern, C.) 2014 Catalogue of cross-slabs. In G. Scally, High Island (Ardoileán), Co. Galway: Excavation of an early medieval monastery. Archaeological Monograph Series 10. Dublin. The Stationery Office.