Cross-slab in Ballynahown

Situated on W facing slope of rising ground in upland area with nearby stream 45m to the E of the graveyard (LA002-013002-). Poorly preserved church located in the centre of a D-shaped graveyard defined by a sandstone wall . Low earth and stone bank with traces of a outer fosse visible at E only; this bank runs out from the base of the graveyard wall at SE and forms a circular boundary to the E of the upstanding graveyard wall. This bank appears to be the remains of an earlier graveyard boundary or may be remains of a small ecclesiastical enclosure (LA002-013004-). Only the E gable of the church (LA002-013001-) stands in the centre of the graveyard. Small aumbry located off centre to S in E wall with destroyed E window in centre of E gable. The base of the aumbry is constructed with a re-used early christian sandstone cross-slab (Wth 0.32m; T 0.07m; L 0.95m) decorated with a double line incised cross with circular base (Feehan 1983, 410). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

Cross-slab in Ballynahown is likely medieval in date, associated with a Christian burial or ecclesiastical site. Such slabs often marked graves or served as waypoints for pilgrims, and may have had both religious and commemorative functions.