Abernethy

Abernethy 5 (?St Bridget), Perthshire, cross-shaft fragment

Measurements: H 0.43m, W 0.36m, D 0.15m

Stone type: sandstone

Place of discovery: NO c 1799 1602

Present location: National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh X.(IB 176)

Evidence for discovery: found re-used in a retaining wall beside the road SW of Abernethy in 1896

Present condition: worn.

Description

This is part of a cross-shaft, both broad faces of which have been entirely defaced, but both narrow faces have retained their relief carving. The right-hand edge of Face B has the remains of a roll moulding, which suggests that the other edges may have been trimmed away. Face B bears three intact scrolls and part of a fourth scroll belonging to a single plant stem with triple-ridged nodes and side shoots forming the spiral scrolls. Both main stem and side shoots have a median line. Each scroll ends in a central bunch of five berries, and there appear to be leaves and berries in the spaces between the scrolls. Face D bears a heavy interlace design with a median line incised on the strands.

Date: eighth or ninth century.

References: ECMS pt 3, 310, 312; Proudfoot 1997, 50.

Compiled by A Ritchie 2016

NO11NE 84 c. 18 16.

This cross-shaft fragment, now in RMS (IB 176), was found in 1896 in a retaining wall by the side of the road near Abernethy. The sculpture had been removed from its broad faces, but the sides were decorated with scroll-and-interlace work.

J R Allen and J Anderson 1903; I Henderson 1983.

There is no change to the existing record.

Information from RCAHMS (JRS), 27 November 1996.