Archaeology Notes

Event ID 655190

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/655190

ND35SE 12 370 503.

A 'super altar of close-grained sandstone, measuring superficially 4 1/2 by 3 3/4ins and 1 1/16ins thick, bearing incised at the centre a cross with the arms expanded at the ends, formed by a single deeply incised line for the upper and lower arms, and by double lines for the side arms, and a small incised cross in each angle. The central cross measures 1 3/4 by 1 1/4ins. The stone is much worn, and all the angles are rounded off. It was recovered in dredging operations near Shaltigoe (Shaltigoe Rock: ND 370 503) on the S side of the Bay of Wick.' It was donated to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS) in 1918 by Mr John Dunnet, 6 Grant St., Wick. (Accession no: KG 91)

Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1919.

An early portable altar, probably late 7th or 8th century in date.