Archaeology Notes

Event ID 832911

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/832911

NO11NE 233 1892 1650

NO 1892 1650 A fragment of early medieval sculpture was found in a garden in School Wynd, Abernethy, in the immediate vicinity of the parish church (and the earlier monastic site). The fragment measures 260 x 205 x 170mm, and is composed of fine-grained yellow sandstone with excellent working properties. Its only surviving diagnostic sculptured feature is a single panel of complex fretwork, similar to the reverse centre panel of the Govan (or Jordanhill) cross-shaft and the Inchcolm cross-shaft (ECMS No. 1). A date in the 10th or 11th century seems possible.

The fretwork aside, the sculpture takes the form of a much-damaged block with a large depression or hollow. Whilst the possibility of this hollowing as original either as a socket or as a bowl or font cannot be ruled out, it seems more likely that it is a secondary feature. The suggestion is that the fragment is part of a cut-down slab or shaft, reused as a bowl or trough and then reused again as masonry built into a wall. Other than the face bearing the fret panel, all the faces seem to have been altered in some way. Two of them bear tooling marks and all have mortar adhering.

M Hall 2002