Burghead Description of stone
Event ID 1023112
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Early Medieval Carved Stones Project
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1023112
Burghead 11, Moray, shrine corner block fragment
Measurements: H 0.70m, W 0.40m to 0.33m, D 0.20m
Stone type: sandstone
Place of discovery: NJ c 110 691
Present location: Burghead Visitor Centre, Moray Museums Service (MORMS 1896.6c).
Evidence for discovery: found sometime before 1867 in the old churchyard and placed within the enclosure round the well. Subsequently it was moved into Burghead Library. Burghead is the site of an early medieval fort and ecclesiastical foundation, possibly dedicated to St Ethernan as a nearby well is known as St Ethan’s Well.
Present condition: the top is broken and there has been some flaking of the carved ornament.
Description
The base of this rectangular stone is only roughly dressed, indicating that it would be below ground level, whereas the upper part has been smoothly dressed and bears carved relief ornament on two faces, A and D. These were the external faces of this corner block, and faces B and C are carved with vertical grooves to take the side panels of the shrine. Face A is carved with a rectangular panel of interlaced knots, within a plain flatband border, and there are traces above the interlace of key pattern. Face D bears the remains of a narrow panel of interlace.
Date: eighth or ninth century.
References: ECMS pt 3, 139-40; Henderson & Henderson 2004, 203.
Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2017
