What is recorded here

Crude limestone and five crosses still stand inside Clonfert Cathedral, moved from the graveyard after maintenance work uncovered them. The large cross and four smaller marks may honour the wounds of Christ, suggesting an altar rather than a grave marker. People may have prayed beside that stone before it was buried, remembered only through the shape cut into it.

Found during maintenance work on the graveyard (GA101-017002-) associated with Clonfert Cathedral (GA101-017001-), this possible cross-slab or altar stone is now located within the cathedral. Described by Cunniffe (2014) as a crudely decorated irregularly shaped limestone slab. Most of one face bears a large single-line grooved Greek cross within a circle. A smaller cross is visible within each quadrant of the circle. It is unclear whether this is a cross-slab or an altar stone though the presence of the five crosses, which may represent the five wounds of Christ, is suggestive of the latter. Possibly of Early Christian date. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 1 February 2023 Cunniffe, C. 2014 Clonfert Early Christian graveslab. Available @ https://field-monuments.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/archaeology/graveslabs/limestone-slab-early-christian-date (Accessed 1 February 2023)

Date likely to the early medieval period, possibly 7th to 10th century AD, given its association with Clonfert Cathedral, an important monastic site. It may have functioned as a Christian cross-slab or altar stone, reflecting early Irish monastic practice.

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