Drainie

Drainie 9, Kinneddar, Moray, cross-head fragment

Measurements: H 0.18m, W 0.15m, D 0.05m

Stone type: sandstone

Place of discovery: NJ c 223 696

Present location: Elgin Museum (1855.1.2)

Evidence for discovery: found in or prior to 1855; according to Stuart (1856, 40), ‘most of

the other fragments [ ie nos 2-13] were found in old dykes about the Manse, and a few were dug up in the old churchyard’. The old manse stood close to the graveyard and the site of Kinneddar old parish church and early medieval foundation, then located beside a sea loch.

Present condition: very weathered and with battered and broken edges.

Description

This fragment represents one arm, probably a side-arm, of a ringed cross, with a rectangular terminal and a very short section of the ring attached to one side. Both broad faces are carved in relief: on one side with a circular knot, which appears to be linked to interlace towards the centre of the head, and on the other side with key pattern. The overall span of the cross-head was probably no more than 0.44m.

Date range: ninth century

Primary references: Stuart 1856, pl 130; ECMS pt 3, 146.

Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2018