Cross-inscribed stone in Leataoibh Beag

A small stone discovered recently in a ditch beside a house in Lateeve Beg is decorated on one face with a Latin cross with expanded terminals. An 8-pronged asterisk occurs beneath the right arm and the letter I or L beneath the left arm. The incisions are narrow and shallow and give the impression of having been executed with a nail or some similar pointed instrument. The stone measures .18m in length x .08m in width. The nearest sites with any religious connotations are Toberteh (KE042-117----), c. 260m to E, and a calluragh (KE042-118001-), c. 50m further E again, but the decoration may be of fairly recent date. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 864. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013

This cross-inscribed stone likely dates to the early medieval period, possibly between the 8th and 11th centuries AD, and reflects Christian symbolism, with the Latin cross and associated motifs commonly found in Irish high crosses. The presence of the 8-pronged asterisk and letter may indicate a liturgical or calendrical reference, though its specific meaning or use in local folklore remains unclear.