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Field Visit
Date 3 July 1925
Event ID 1105454
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1105454
Sculptured Cross and Slabs, A'Chill.
The site of St Columba's Chapel [Canmore ID 10694] is marked by the finely-sculptured free standing sandstone cross [10705] of unusual type which stands by the graveyard in a valley rather less than ¼ mile north of Canna post office. Mutilated by the loss of the top and one sidearm, the cross has a present height of 6 feet 5 inches, and when entire had a width of 4 feet 4 inches over the arms. The shaft has a total thickness of 8 inches and a total width of 2 feet, but the outer parts of both obverse and reverse are set back about 2 inches and terminate at the arms in bracket-like projections. The cross head has a central circular panel on either face, to meet which the remaining arm tapers and is incurved. Each face and side is sculptured. On the front, which faces eastward, the sculptures are mainly in high relief. On the head the circular panel, 1 foot 3 inches in diameter, is very weatherworn and bears what appears to be a serpentine pattern; the arm is also sculptured, but the device is illegible. On the outer portion of the shaft the uppermost sculpture represents an animal with an elephant's head and trunk, forelegs of a horse and rudimentary hind legs; beneath is an animal turning back and biting its body, the tail being tufted like a lion's; below this is a figure on horseback carved with great spirit; the rider wears a hood and a loose coat with a tail, his legs are bare or tightly swathed. The horse has a bit and reins, and there is an object roughly bag-shaped above the rump. Beneath this is a group comprising a woman wearing the hair curled, clad in a frock of ankle length, with a child in her left arm, and another figure represented in profile with long hair and beard, holding a bag or vessel. The lowest sculpture represents two amorphous creatures resembling fish. On the receding portion of the shaft there is, below the remaining portion of the arm, what seems to be an angel worked into the bracket-like projection, and lower down a mole-like animal and a piece of interlaced work. The outer side of this part of the shaft is also sculptured with panels containing heads and busts, while on the outer surface of the arm is a boldly-cut knot. (Figs. 299, 300.)
The reverse side of the shaft is greatly worn and bears in low relief a series of interlaced panels containing, apparently, animals intertwined in places. The topmost panel is cut in a diagonal key pattern. The cross is firmly set in a backing of stones, and at its base lies a fragment of a saddle quern. (Cf. Early Christian Monuments, pp. 107-9.)
CARVED SLAB. Within the churchyard, close to the west boundary wall, is a slab of micaceous schist, covering a modern grave, sculptured with a heterogeneous assemblage of objects (Fig. 301.) It is 5 feet 8½ inches in length, 3½ inches thick, and has an average breadth of 1 foot. Filling the upper dexter corner is a small patera, and the remainder of the top is occupied by a figure holding in the left hand a large sword, the hilt of which he is hammering, the hammer being held with the right hand; beside the hammer, but not connected with it, is an object resembling a short gun. Below the patera is a long-bladed tool with a spade handle, rather like a peat spade, and below this what may be a saw or perhaps a harrow. Below the figure is an object unidentified and beside this an arrowhead of flint and not metal type. Terminating the upper group of sculptures is a bird, probably an eagle, carved back-down athwart the stone; separating the two groups is a plain panel uncarved, possibly intended for an inscription. The lower group starts with a representation of two conventional trees, but to read these in proper position the stone must be reversed. There is a rectangular object on the dexter side resembling a mason's square. Thereafter follows an interlaced pattern based on a cross saltire, and the group is terminated with a snake (?) arranged like the letter M. Apparently two people are commemorated by this slab, the symbols beginning at either end.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 3 July 1925.
OS map: Islands of Canna and Sanday (Inverness-shire)lix.
