Inscribed Pillar Stone in Churchyard

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of an inscribed stone, a commemorative monument from the early medieval period and located in the churchyard of St David’s Church Bridell. The discovery of long-cist graves in the field west of the churchyard indicates an early focus for burial with which the monument may have been related suggesting therefore may it may not be in situ. The stone is ‘spotted dolerite’ obtained from the Presili Hills about 11km away and is a rough, unshaped and thin pillar tapering to a distinct point. An ogam inscription runs vertically up the north east angle and reads: NETTASAGR[I]MAQIMUCO[I]BR[IA]CI. This is interpreted as Nettasagri maqi mucoi Briaci and translated as ‘of Nettasagi son of the kindred of Briaci’. Nettasa(g)ri is an Irish name meaning ‘champion of the leader’ and the formula ‘son of the kindred of’ is a common one in Ireland. On typological grounds the inscription is thought to date to the fifth century. About two thirds of the way down on the north face an encircled cross is incised. Its form is an equal-armed outline with rounded, slightly sunken armpits and curved cross-arm terminals. The style indicates it is a later addition from the ninth or tenth centuries and was possibly made with the aim of Christianizing the monument and/or the person commemorated.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of the organisation and practice of medieval Christianity. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. An inscribed stone may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.