Cross

On the SW side of a holy well (SL038-120002-) and in the SE portion of a stepped barrow (SL038-120001-). An upright roughly shaped sandstone pillar (H 0.54m; Wth 0.25m; T 0.17m) with a simple cross enclosed in a ring incised on its NE face. The pillar narrows to 0.22m in width from slightly below its centre. The ring (Wth 0.25m; H 0.26m) encompasses the full width of the pillar, a double line forming the top and a single line the sides and base. The cross extends to the full width and height of the ring. Four evenly spaced linear incisions (H 0.04m) project from the upper edge of each arm of the cross. A tiny circular depression (diam. c. 15mm) flanks the shaft of the cross within the upper half of the ring. Crawford (1908, 182) has noted that this slab was brought to the Dublin Exhibition in 1907. (Wood-Martin 1892, 371; Herity, Kelly and Mattenberger 1997, 121; M. B. Timoney 1997, 4). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008

Probably dating to the early Christian period (5th–9th century), the cross-incised stone at Kilturra is likely associated with ritual or commemorative practices linked to the nearby holy well and barrow. Such stones often marked sacred sites or served as waypoints along pilgrimage routes.