Cross-slab in Inishmurray

Located in the ecclesiastical enclosure/cashel (SL001-001001-), to SE of Teach Molaise (SL001-001005-). Rectangular recumbent slab (H: 1.26 m, W: 0.748 m, Th: 0.06 m) whose surface is filled with a plain rectangular outline border frame (W: 0.064<0.08 m), defined by two thin incised lines. At the central point of the base, this frame is decorated with a small skeuomorphic spike, tapering into a bulbous terminal (0.052 m across). The taper is formed from incised lines and is decorated with an incised outline triangle. The terminal is embellished with an upward-facing C-scroll-in false relief. The outer left-hand line of the frame does not extend to the edge of the slab, indicating that this corner was already missing when the design was carved. The inner line of the frame is broken briefly at the midpoint of the lower side. The frame surrounds a single-strand incised shafted cross (0.864 m by 0.476 m) decorated with an incised outline circle at the crossing which the arms abut. Each arm terminates in a semi-circle that abut the frame. The whole cross is embellished with an outline cross with arms 0.056<0.068 m wide. The above description is derived from the results of a survey of the archaeological monuments on Inishmurray undertaken in 1997-1999 and published in: Jerry O’Sullivan and Tomás Ó Carragáin 2008 Inishmurrary. Monks and pilgrims in an Atlantic landscape. Volume 1: Archaeological Survey and Excavations 1997-2000. Cork. The Collins Press. Date of upload: 12 March 2018

Probably dates to the early Christian period (5th–9th century AD), associated with monastic or ecclesiastical activity on Inishmurray. The cross-slab may have served as a memorial or liturgical marker, reflecting the island's historical role as an important religious site.