Killean Old Parish Church. Detail of headstone of ploughman. Digital image of AG 1857

Description Killean Old Parish Church. Detail of headstone of ploughman. Digital image of AG 1857

Date 1967

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number SC 801618

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of AG 1857

Scope and Content Gravestone of Donald McKinnon, Killean Old Parish Church, Argyll & Bute This shows the top of the stone with its beautifully-carved scene of a ploughman with a two-horse plough-team. Ridges cut into the stone cleverly represent the furrows of soil already turned by the plough. The farmer wears a Scottish bonnet or flat cap, knee-breeches and stockings. The ropes used to guide the horses and the various elegant curves of the plough are all carefully carved by a skilled sculptor who was obviously familiar with the scene. Farmers' gravestones frequently show scenes of ploughing, or more symbolic depictions of the Sower and the Reaper, emblems of life and death. The most common emblem is that of the sock and coulter (metal parts) of a plough, a device which looks like a triangular buckle and blade. Other tools depicted include the swingletrees (horse harnesses), flails, yokes, harrows, sheaves of corn, and occasionally, animals. Killean Old Parish Church dates from the 13th century, but fell into disuse in 1770 when the roof collapsed. This gravestone in the churchyard commemorates Donald McKinnon, 'late farmer at Laigh Gortanafaull', who died in 1810. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

External Reference Inv. plate 44b

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/801618

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap