St Vigeans
Cross Slab (Early Medieval)
Site Name St Vigeans
Classification Cross Slab (Early Medieval)
Canmore ID 35568
Site Number NO64SW 3.17
NGR NO 6383 4294
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/35568
- Council Angus
- Parish Arbroath And St Vigeans
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Angus
- Former County Angus
St Vigeans 17 (St Vigianus), Angus, cross-slab fragment
Measurements: H 0.31m, W 0.34m, D 0.16m
Stone type: red sandstone
Place of discovery: NO c 6384 4289
Present location: in St Vigeans Museum (HES).
Evidence for discovery: found prior to 1870 when it was built into the interior wall-face of the west gable of the church. By 1903 it had been removed and placed in the porch. It was taken into St Vigeans Museum in 1960.
Present condition: worn, with three broken edges.
Description
This fragment is part of a cross-slab carved in relief with a ringed cross with square stepped armpits, but only the lower part of the head and upper shaft survive. The slab has a plain flat-band border, and the cross is outlined by roll moulding. The shaft and lower arm are filled with pairs of linked out-turned Stafford knots. The upper part of a frontal cleric carrying a book survives to the left of the shaft. A horseman carrying a spear is carved on face C, below the lower right corner of a rectangular panel.
Date range: eighth or ninth century.
Primary references: ECMS pt 3, 275; Geddes 2017, no VIG017.
Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2017.
Reference (1964)
NO64SW 3.17 6384 4294
No.17. Upright cross-slab. On the front face is the lower part of the head of the cross. The cross-shaft is decorated with interlace and has had on either side of it an ecclesiastic holding a book. On the back, a typical Pictish horseman.
S Cruden 1964
