What is recorded here

The first church rose from that island in the sixth century, yet the thin garnet slab still lies buried beside its vanished walls. A cross carved in grooves, not chiselled, waits under the soil like a promise kept twice. High Island gave up its faith slowly, one stone at a time, and the sea kept the rest.

Recorded by Fisher (2014, 213, no. 27, Fig. 7.5), this cruciform cross-slab (H 0.27m; Wth 0.16m; T 0.02m) of garnet mica-schist was found during excavations around the church (GA021-026014-) on High Island. The short incomplete side-arms have L-shaped or rounded armpits. One face is decorated. It bears a grooved linear cross with forked terminals at the foot and sides, and a wide semicircular upper terminal. The shaft is also incomplete. (White Marshall and Rourke 2000, 155, no. 27) Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 20 November 2015

Dated to the early medieval period, likely 8th to 10th century, the cross-slab may have served a Christian commemorative or instructional function. Its discovery near a church suggests a liturgical or funerary context, though specific folklore or dedications remain unrecorded.

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