What is recorded here

An upright sandstone slab carved with a circle and cross of arcs stood within an early church enclosure at Bawnatemple before ploughing buried it again. The shape suggests a marker people could see from a distance, perhaps guiding worship or warning against forgetting. It reappeared decades later in a ordinary field, still carrying its strange geometry.

Found in 1970s during ploughing in field immediately NW of graveyard, within early ecclesiastical enclosure (CO071-108001-). Described in detail by Hurley and O'Flaherty (1981, 53-61): sandstone slab (L 0.42m; 0.26m x 0.14m) bearing an incised incomplete circle (max. diam. 0.23m) within which is carved 'a cross of arcs' probably representing a Maltese cross. They conclude that stone was displayed in an upright position, suggest a 7th century date and note similarities with cross slab (9244) from Ballyvourney 19km to W. Stone now in Canovee Primary School. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

Probably dates to the early Christian period (5th–9th centuries AD), given its association with an ecclesiastical enclosure. Likely used as a memorial or waymark, possibly with Christian iconography, though specific meaning or folklore is not recorded.

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