Fortingall, Parish Church

Fortingall 1 (Coeti of Iona), Perthshire, cross-slab fragments

Measurements: H 0.34m, W 0.44m, D 0.05m

Stone type: grey sandstone

Place of discovery: NN 7416 4701

Present location: within the east end of the church at Fortingall.

Evidence for discovery: three fragments of this stone were found in the late nineteenth century in the walls of the church when it was demolished.

Present condition: battered and now missing one of the fragments.

Description

The fragments belong to the upper part of a slender cross-slab carved, mostly by incision, on all four faces, which were framed with narrow roll mouldings. Face A bore a cross outlined by a roll moulding, with squared terminals to the arms and large rounded armpits, and a ring linking the arms. The upper left part of the fragment is slightly curved and it is likely that the top of the slab was rounded. The cross is filled with double-strand interlace and the ring with running spirals, and there are pairs of spirals within the slightly sunken armpits. On either side of the shaft are panels of diagonal key pattern.

Little of the surface of face C survives but there were two large robed figures on either side of a cross-shaft. Both narrow faces, B and D, are incised with step pattern.

Date: eighth or ninth century.

References: ECMS pt 3, 508-9; Robertson 1997, 137-8.

Compiled by A Ritchie 2016

Fortingall 8 (Coeti of Iona), Perthshire, recumbent cross-slab

Measurements: L 1.63m, W 0.53m

Stone type: blue-grey schist

Place of discovery: NN 7416 4701

Present location:

Evidence for discovery:

Present condition: broken into two.

Description

This slab bears a broadly pecked equal-armed cross and an incised and encircled equal-armed cross, and the difference in technique and style may suggest that they are not of the same date.

Date: seventh to ninth century.

References: Robertson 1997, 142-3.

Compiled by A Ritchie 2016