Kilmahumaig Cemetery, Cross-slab

NR79SE 20.01 7893 9360

Cross-marked stone, Kilmahumaig. A cross-slab of Early Christian type was identified in 1985 immediately outside the entrance of the private burial-enclosure. It is a roughly rectangular slab of local quartzitic chlorite-schist, damaged at the edges and tapered at the foot, measuring 1.54m by 0.37m.

On one face there is a long-shafted ringed cross, 0.26m in diameter with round sunken armpits. At the centre of the cross-head there is a 0.12m roundel bearing a crosslet in false relief. Flanking the upper part of the shaft there are two pairs of riders, the upper ones facing away from the shaft and the lower ones facing in; all these figures are now incomplete. Below them is a pair of animals, possibly griffons, with their heads turned back. The lower part of the shaft, which is open-ended, is flanked by much-worn strips of interlace.

On the other face there is a Latin cross in low relief, 0.98m in height, with an open foot. The lower 0.33m on this face has been worked back to form a butt.

RCAHMS 1992, visited June 1987

Near the entrance to a private burial-enclosure is a slab, tapered at the foot and 1.54m by 0.37m. Face (a) bears a long-shafted ringed cross, 0.26m in diameter and with round sunken armpits. At the centre a 0.12m roundel bears a crosslet in false relief (cf. No.17). Flanking the open-ended shaft are two pairs of riders, below them a pair of animals, possibly griffons, and then interlace. On face (b) is a Latin cross in low relief, 0.98m high, with an open foot.

I Fisher 2001.