Inscribed 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, probably dating to the second half of the sixth century and located in the churchyard of St Llawddog’s Church, Cilgerran. The stone composed of ‘spotted’ dolerite is set upright in the ground; it is square-sectioned, rough and, unshaped. The east face of the stone bears an inscription in Latin partly obscured as the lower part of the monument is buried, the north east angle has an inscription in ogam. The Latin inscription incised in two lines, running vertically downwards reads (in full): TRENEGUSSIFILI MACUTRENIHICIACIT, interpreted as Trenegussi fili / Macutreni hic iacit translated as ‘of Trenegussus son of Macus-Treni, here he lies’. The ogam inscription runs vertically upwards, it is worn so that some parts are either not or only partly visible. Following earlier records it reads: TRENAGUS.MAQIMAQITRENI interpreted as Trenagus. Maqi Maqitreni translated as ‘of Trenagus. Son of Macus-Treni’. The north face of the stone towards the top has a small, finely scratched, uneven linear cross. The personal names have Irish origins. The addition of hic iacit in the Latin identifies the inscription as Christian. The date is ascribed on epigraphic grounds.

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.