1018836 |
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Oronsay Priory, a house of Augustinian canons, was founded in the second quarter of the 14th century by John, Lord of the Isles and is one of the rare medieval foundations in Argyll that lacks any Early Christian antecedent, though there was certainly earlier activity on Colonsayat for example, Riasg Buidhe (p. 158). The priory is of interest from an architectural point of view and there is also an extensive series of graveslabs displayed in the building known as the 'Priors House'. There are also important late medieval crosses, particularly that known as the Oronsay Cross situated outside the west end of the priory church. [...] |
1985 |
1018839 |
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The ruins of this chapel stand next to the parish church of Rathesay; the chapel known as St Mary's or Lady Kirk may be as early as the 13th century in date, though later dates have also been proposed. It is now of interest primarily for the two well-preserved recessed canopy-tombs at the middle of each of the side-walls, and an effigy in the West Highland tradition. The effigy is that of a warrior with the arms of the Menteiths and it is likely that it is of mid-14th century date, indeed this may be one of the earliest surviving carved armorials in Scotland. The church is presumably on the site of an earlier foundation, for in 1816 the fragments of an unusual Early Christian cross slab, now in Bute Museum, were uncovered during clearing operations. [...] |
1985 |
1018910 |
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Many of the elements of this pair of sites join to make them unusual and in so doing remind us that the groups, categories or 'norms' of the archaeological record are to some extent illusions. To the north-east there is a stone circle which was discovered in the course of recent excavations; measuring about 10.5m by 10m, this site was of two periods: a timber circle, the posts of which have been marked by round concrete pillars, and a stone circle, most of the uprights of which were subsequently removed, but one remains in situ. A radiocarbon date shows that this is one of the earliest circles in Scotland. [...] |
1985 |