What is recorded here

Cross stands five metres east of Teampall Chiaráin, a limestone pillar where a stick inserted in its upper hole cast shadows across vertical lines to mark midday. The ringed cross below and double circle above turned ordinary sunlight into a measurable gift for whoever lived near that field.

Located c. 5m to the E of Teampall Chiaráin (GA111-002001-). The W face of this rectangular limestone pillar (H 1.32m; Wth 0.36m; T 0.1m) bears three features: the lower part of the slab is incised with a ringed two-line Latin cross with open-ended terminals. The upper terminal is stepped and ends in spirals. A double circle is incised above the cross. Two parallel lines cut it in half vertically. A hole above these lines cuts the outer ring of the circle and pierces the slab. The three features are framed by a single-line groove running around the edges of the slab. Macalister (1922, 177) first suggested that this was a sundial. The hole would have held a stick that acted as a gnomon and midday would have been marked by the shadow running down the vertical lines (diameter) of the circle. (Frazer 1896, 161-2; Woodmartin 1902, vol. 2, 240; Crawford 1913, 154-5(a); O’Flanagan 1927, vol. 3, 369 and facing p. 200 (1); Higgins 1987, vol. 2, 370, no. 91) Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 12 February 2016 This monument was taken into Ownership under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 - National Monument 43.

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