Cross-slab in High Island

This cross-slab is located along the NE shore of the large lake on High Island. It is one of two cross-slabs (see also GA021-026025-) that were found among debris in the monastic enclosure (GA021-026022-) and it was subsequently placed upright on a leacht (GA021-015----) in 1869 by Kinahan (1868-9, 348). Recorded by Fisher et al. (2014, 210, no. 19, Fig. 7.4) as leaning against the leacht, the irregular cruciform slab (H 1.05m; Wth 0.52m; T 0.14m), of garnet mica-schist, is much weathered. The cross-head is formed by four deep notches. Two of the notches (lower left and upper right on W face) are not cut through the stone suggesting that it may be an unfinished cross-slab. No decoration is evident. (Higgins 1987, vol. II, 391, no. 111; White Marshall and Rourke 2000, 143, no. 4) Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 11 December 2015

This cross-slab likely dates to the early medieval period, associated with a Christian monastic settlement. It may have served a liturgical or commemorative function, reflecting the spread of Christianity in the region.