Kilmichael Of Inverlussa

(1) Much worn fragment of an elaborate cross-slab of silicious mica-schist with short side-arms and possibly a pointed top, measuring 1.21m by 0.47m. It bears a cross with beaded margin and wide rounded armpits, having a beaded ring 0.45m in diameter which appears to enclose in the armpits small crouching figures with arms clasped round their bent knees. The arms of the cross contained interlocking spirals, best preserved in the left arm, linked to the triple-spiral roundel filling the centre of the cross-head. The ring is set in a cruciform frame formed by a plain 60mm band which returned at the sides as arms 55mm in projection and 0.4m high. The cross-arms overlie the frame, and the top arm is extended to form a cross with narrow round armpits, filled with interlace and apparently having a rounded base. In the lower spandrels there are two plain cross lets in low relief, and the cross is framed at the sides by a 60mm margin which at a height of 0.21m returns obliquely as if to form a gable, although a surviving flange of stone outside the margin indicates that the slab itself may have had a rectangular top. The shaft is incomplete and much worn. The formal geometrical design of this slab has no local parallels, although the crosslets are repeated at Kilmartin (No. 68,4). An 8th- or 9th-century date is probable. (Kist, 31 (1985), 1-3and cover).

RCAHMS 1992, visited August 1985

Probable site of medieval chapel, and parish church from 1734. A fragment from the churchyard was moved into the church in 1999.

(1) Much-worn fragment of cross-slab with short side-arms, 1.21m by 0.47m. A cross with wide rounded armpits has a 0.45m ring enclosing in the armpits small figures with arms clasped round bent knees. The cross-arms contained interlocking spirals linked to a triple-spiral central roundel, and they overlie a cruciform frame formed by a 60mm band. The top arm extends to form a cross with narrow round armpits, filled with interlace, flanked by two crosslets. This cross is framed by a 60mm margin which returns obliquely to form a gable, although a flange of stone indicates that the slab itself may have had a rectangular top. An 8th- or 9th-century date is probable.

I Fisher 2001.

The fragment of an early Christian cross-slab (RCAHMS 1992, No. 71 (1)) that was formerly housed in Kilmichael of Inverlussa Parish Church (NR78NE 10) has now been moved to Kilmartin Museum (NR89NW 116).

Information from HES Survey and Recording (GFG) 4 April 2019.