Shaltigoe Rock, Wick

Wick, Caithness, portable altar

Measurements: H 113mm, W 99mm, D 60mm

Stone type: fine-grained sandstone

Place of discovery: ND c 368505

Present location: National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh (KG 91)

Evidence for discovery: found during dredging operations near Shaltigeo on the S side of the Bay of Wick and presented to the museum in 1918.

Present condition: water-worn.

Description

This small portable altar is incised with five small equal-armed crosses, one at each corner and a central cross with barred terminals and a partially double outline.

Date range: late seventh or eighth century.

References: PSAS 53 (1918-19), 10-11; Thomas 1971, 194-5; Scott & Ritchie 2014, 192, 200.

Compiled by A Ritchie 2016

ND35SE 12 370 503.

A 'super altar of close-grained sandstone, measuring superficially 4 1/2 by 3 3/4ins and 1 1/16ins thick, bearing incised at the centre a cross with the arms expanded at the ends, formed by a single deeply incised line for the upper and lower arms, and by double lines for the side arms, and a small incised cross in each angle. The central cross measures 1 3/4 by 1 1/4ins. The stone is much worn, and all the angles are rounded off. It was recovered in dredging operations near Shaltigoe (Shaltigoe Rock: ND 370 503) on the S side of the Bay of Wick.' It was donated to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS) in 1918 by Mr John Dunnet, 6 Grant St., Wick. (Accession no: KG 91)

Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1919.

An early portable altar, probably late 7th or 8th century in date.