Cross-slab in Ballygarran (gaultiere By.)

Situated at the crest of an E-facing slope within a trivallate enclosure (see WA027-003010-) which has been suggested as 'the site of an early church' (Power 1952, 215). In the course of excavations undertaken on the site in 1940 M.J. Bowman unearthed ‘a small irregularly shaped flagstone bearing an incised cross of Greek type, about six inches in length and rudely cut and lengthened by a later hand into a Latin cross.’ (Power 1941, 63-4). Bowman suggested that ‘this cross-inscribed stone may have been removed from its original position; its presence, however, on a site which resemebled a grave, suggests a burial.’ (Curtin 2015, 93). The present location of this possible cross-slab is unknown: its last know provenance is recorded by Bowman in 1941 as at 'Canon Power's house' (Curtin 2015, 137). (Power 1941; 1952; Moore 1999, 165-6; Curtin 2015) Compiled by: Michael Moore Updated by: Paul Walsh Revised date of upload: 21 December 2015

Probably dates to the early medieval period, associated with Christian activity given its location within a possible early church site. The cross-slab may have served a liturgical or commemorative function, reflecting the spread of Christianity in the region.