Gallow Hill

Gallow Hill, Balcalk, Angus, cross-incised socket stone

Measurements: L 1.4m, W 0.85m, D 0.45m

Stone type: sandstone

Place of discovery: NO 39666 40667

Present location: in situ on the south slope of Gallow Hill.

Evidence for discovery:

Present condition: incomplete.

Description

On a large natural boulder, a well-cut equal armed cross with expanded terminals has been incised close to a poorly cut and incomplete socket, rectangular in shape and surviving to a length of 0.30m.

Date range: early medieval.

Primary reference: Borland, Fraser & Sherriff 2007, 102-3.

Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2018

NO34SE 49 NO 39666 40667

A large boulder, bearing an incised cross and a rectangular slot on its upper surface, is situated in permanent pasture on the S face of Gallow Hill 1.4km NNW of Balcalk farmsteading. The boulder measures 1.4m from ESE to WNW by 0.85m transversely and up to 0.45m in thickness, though its N side is buried within the slope and the upper surface here is fringed by grass. The incised cross, the arms of which have expanded terminals, measures 130mm from E to W by 120mm transversely, and it has been cut to a depth of 15mm. Immediately W of this cross is a roughly rectangular slot, which measures 300mm from NNE to SSW by 90mm transversely and about 40mm in depth. The sides of this slot have been crudely cut and the bottom is rough and uneven; at its SSW end the top of the slot breaks through the edge of the boulder so that here its actual depth is no more than 20mm.

Location established by hand-held GPS (Garmin) as NO 39666 40667: accuracy cited by device as 5m.

Visited by RCAHMS (JRS, JB) 23 January 2007.