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Field Visit
Date June 1985
Event ID 1082842
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1082842
(1) A pillar or cross-shaft measuring 1.11m in incomplete height and 0.23m by 0.l9m in maximum cross-section. Drummond describes the shaft as 'about 9 feet (2.7m) long', but his drawing indicates that about half of the original length survives (en.5). It is surmounted by an oval projection 35mm in height and 70mm in length, resembling a tenon, but the adjacent surface is so irregular that this can hardly have served any structural purpose. The side-faces of the pillar are pierced, 0.44m from the top, by two sockets each about 90mm square, which tapers somewhat towards their junction at the centre and are not exactly aligned. Although the irregular cross-section of this slot appears to make it unsuitable for a single transom, Drummond records that 'a long stone put through a hole in the shaft' survived until about 1843 (en.6); this was presumably secured with wedges.
On the front of the shaft is carved at the top, in false relief, the upper part of a human figure with a large head and what appears to be a pointed beard. The arms are shown, the right hand resting on the left one, but only the upper part of the torso is indicated and there is no evidence that the figure was a sheela-na-gig, as has been claimed (en.7). Immediately below the figure, and aligned with the transverse socket, there is a low 70mm boss in false relief within a ring defined by an outer hollow 150mm in overall diameter. Below this there is a cross with circular terminals, 185mm high by 160mm across the arms, in false relief within a quatrefoil recess with beaded margin. The only feature on the back of the shaft is a low75mm boss within an irregular hollow, again corresponding in position to the socket.
The closest structural parallel for this cross is provided by two perforated cross-marked pillars at the Early Christian monastic site of Inismurray (Co. Sligo), where, however, additional dowel-holes may indicate that the transoms were of timber (en.8*). A more sophisticated stage is represented by the composite crosses of Iona and others with mortice-and-tenon joints (en.9*), but the Killevin cross is itself evidently influenced by crosses with prominent central bosses, and can hardly be earlier than the 8th century. Whereas the posture of the bearded figure is remarkably similar to that of an Iron Age idol from Lustymore (Co. Fermanagh) (en.10,) the style of the head with its ridged outline and oval mouth may be compared with other Early Christian carvings such as that from Riasg Buidhe (Colonsay) (en.11), and a date in the 8th or 9th century may be tentatively suggested. (Name Book, No. 17,p.21; Drummond, Monuments, 2 and pl.92,2).
RCAHMS 1992, visited June 1985
