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Altar — Disert

Altar

Why this matters

A local holy well or ritual site; wider significance not recorded.

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What is recorded here

Located in the N of a graveyard (DG084-001002-), which is enclosed within the S half of an ecclesiastical enclosure (DG084-001001-). Not shown on the 1836 OS 6-inch map, but indicated as ‘Altar’ on the 1907 edition, this altar (Wth 1.05m; D 0.0.45m; H 0.63m) is roughly constructed of drystone walling. It is built against the NW side of a raised area (H c. 2m at N) of rock outcrop and boulders, which is largely obscured by sod and vegetation cover, with a rowan tree growing out of it. Three stone objects -a fragment of a quernstone, a cylindrical stone simply decorated around its circumference with grooves, and an undecorated cylindrical stone- rest on the flat slab that forms the top of the altar; another stone with a modern carving of a face was added in 2011. (Beglane et al. 2016, Appendix 2; Appendix 3). Mass was celebrated here during Penal times (Meehan 1997, 15). There is a penitential cairn (DG084-001005-) immediately to SE, and two others (DG084-001006-; DG084-001007-) c. 8m to SSW. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 August 2017

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