Pricing Change
New pricing for orders of material from this site will come into place shortly. Charges for supply of digital images, digitisation on demand, prints and licensing will be altered.
Upcoming Maintenance
Please be advised that this website will undergo scheduled maintenance on the following dates:
Thursday, 9 January: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday, 23 January: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday, 30 January: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
During these times, some functionality such as image purchasing may be temporarily unavailable. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Clach Na Ciplich
Cross Slab (Early Medieval)
Site Name Clach Na Ciplich
Classification Cross Slab (Early Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Thulachan
Canmore ID 8121
Site Number ND13NW 4
NGR ND 1056 3940
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/8121
- Council Highland
- Parish Halkirk
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Caithness
- Former County Caithness
Thulachan, Clach na Ciplich, Caithness, cross-slab fragments
Measurements: H 1.22m, W 0.61m, D 0.08m
Stone type: sandstone
Place of discovery: ND 1056 3940
Present location: lying flat on peaty knoll.
Evidence for discovery: recorded in 1890 and in 1910 during fieldwork by RCAHMS.
Present condition: broken into two pieces, third right-hand piece of slab reported missing in 1977.
Description
This slab bears a large pecked outline cross. The upper arm is expanded, and the lines of its sides extend across the centre of the cross-head. There is a transverse line across the shaft to denote the lower arm of an equal-armed cross.
Date: seventh or eighth century.
Compiled by A Ritchie 2016
Thulachan, Clach na Ciplich, Caithness, cross-slab fragments
Measurements: H 1.22m, W 0.61m, D 0.08m
Stone type: sandstone
Place of discovery: ND 1056 3940
Present location: lying flat on peaty knoll.
Evidence for discovery: recorded in 1890 and in 1910 during fieldwork by RCAHMS.
Present condition: broken into two pieces, third right-hand piece of slab reported missing in 1977.
Description
This slab bears a large pecked outline cross. The upper arm is expanded, and the lines of its sides extend across the centre of the cross-head. There is a transverse line across the shaft to denote the lower arm of an equal-armed cross.
Date: seventh or eighth century.
Compiled by A Ritchie 2016
Field Visit (7 July 1910)
About 1m. S by W. of Thulachan, on the highest part of the watershed, at an elevation of 600', is a thin sandstone slab measuring 4' in total length by 2' in breadth and 3" in thickness. It faces NE and SW and on the latter face is a rude cross. The cross measures 2' 6" in extreme length, and 1' 2" across the arms. The stem is 4" broad, and the arms, which slightly expand, are 6" in length. At 5" below the intersection a line has been drawn across the shaft. The angles are not hollowed, and the shaft is rounded at the base. The slab is broken in three pieces. The stone is known as "Clach na Ciplich".
Visited by RCAHMS, 7th July 1910.
Field Visit (28 May 1960)
ND 1056 3940. This cross slab remains as described by the RCAHMS. It has sunk further into the peaty knoll on which it stands, but it can be lifted out.
Visited by OS (J L D) 28 May 1960.
Desk Based Assessment (1960)
ND13NW 4 1056 3940.
'Clach na Ciplich', Cross Slab: About 1 mile S by W of Thulachan, on the highest point of the watershed, 600ft OD, is Clach na Ciplich, a thin sandstone slab, measuring 4ft by 2ft and 3ins thick. It faces NE and SW; on the latter face is incised a crude cross, measuring 2ft 6ins in length and 1ft 2ins across the arms. The slab is broken in three pieces.
T Sinclair 1890; RCAHMS 1911.
Information from OS, c. 1960.
Field Visit (1977)
The broken right hand piece of the slab is now missing.
DES 1977.
Field Visit (4 March 1982)
No change.
Visited by OS (J M) 4 March 1982.
