What is recorded here

Breakage snapped the slab in two but did not diminish its voice. The lower half still stands atop the cairn with its quartered circle and Greek cross facing east, while the upper half leans beside the base like a discarded sentence. Together they measure nearly two metres of interrupted prayer set in the centre of Glencolumbkille valley. The crossline continues below the circle into a curved groove, suggesting the design reached further than stone or memory preserved.

A roughly circular cairn (DG080-014001-) 2.3m in diameter and 0.75m high. Situated upright on top of this is a cross-inscribed slab (DG080-014002-). This has been broken in two and the upper part now stands upright beside the cairn base. Of the part in situ, the decoration is on the E face. The reconstructed slab is 1.98m × 0.52m × 0.09m. The inscription consists of a quartered circle with a central Greek cross. The centre line of the cross continues below the circle expanding into a circular groove with outside band. The cairn is located by the roadside in the centre of Glencolumbkille valley floor in fair pasture land. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

This cross-slab likely dates to the early medieval period, associated with Christian worship or memorial practice. Its placement on a cairn may reflect a later adaptation of a prehistoric monument for religious use.

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