Cross-inscribed stone

The National Monuments Service's description

Roughly triangular stone slab (L 0.86m; H 0.6m). In the centre of one face of the slab is an incised Latin cross enclosed by a circle (int. diam. 0.17m) of two close-set concentric grooves. There is a small circular depression or cupmark (diam. c. 0.02m) in each quadrant of the circle enclosing the cross. A human head (H 0.12m), set slightly askew in relation to the orientation of the cross, tops the circle, and three vertical lines, possibly representing legs, extend from the base of the circle to the bottom edge of the slab, thus giving the overall impression of the cross being incorporated into the body of a man. The figure extends the full height of the slab. The face has clear, simply delineated features, with circular eyes flanking an elongated triangular nose. Above the eyes, two horizontal incised lines suggest prominent eyebrows or a furrowed brow. The face has a pointed chin, or possibly a beard, which intersects with the double circle. Enclosing the top of the head is an incised conical or domed feature, enclosing five parallel horizontal lines, centrally divided by a vertical line; it appears to represent hair or some form of head-dress. Springing from the base of the head are two raised arms, bent at the elbows. The arms, and possibly the hair/head-dress, may have been added later than the other elements on the stone; they appear to be more lightly incised. Two prominent circular depressions or cupmarks (diam. c. 0.04m) flank the head at about the level of its intersection with the cross-in-circle. At the lower right-hand corner of the stone is an X or cross in saltire form, and in the lower left-hand corner, a cross composed of four intersecting diagonal lines, enclosed by an incised rough diamond-shape.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 22 September 2017