Cross-slab in Carrowntemple

Thirteen Early Christian slabs and a slab rough-out were found in various locations around Carrowntemple graveyard (SL044-056002-), mainly to the S and E of the church (SL044-056001-), and were described by Wallace and Timoney (1987, 43-61). Nine of the thirteen are cross-slabs, two are decorated with triskeles, one with a maze pattern and a fragment of one with an inscription. Six of these slabs are now in the NMI. The remainder, apart from one which is concealed in the graveyard, are in the care of Sligo County Council, some being on display in Sligo Museum. Replicas of twelve of them have been erected against the S wall of the old graveyard and there is a duplicate copy of one on top of the wall. The following description is based on Wallace and Timoney (ibid.) and the number assigned to the slab in that publication has been retained. An additional possible cross-slab was found at this site in 2003 and is included at the end of the list. This is the original location of a cross-slab that is now in the care of Sligo County Council (see SL014-284001- for present location). Slab 1: a rectangular slab (1.03m x 0.59m; T 0.08m) with a single-line cross (34.5cm x 21cm) with rounded and slightly expanded terminals. 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). Revised by: Paul Walsh Date of revision: 28 May 2009

Dated to the Early Christian period, the cross-slab likely served a funerary or commemorative function, reflecting the spread of Christianity in the region. Such slabs often feature symbolic Christian iconography and may have been associated with local monastic or burial sites.