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Cross-slab in Bíofán

Cross-slab

What is recorded here

Ten metres across and no taller than a knee, the enclosure holds a cairn crowned by a slab whose crude cross still points upward. The wall weaves into living rock and leaves a narrow gap toward the southeast, as if admitting breath rather than keeping out intruders. In the shallow valley pasture, the cross does not decorate a church or mark a grave; it stands above a buried chamber, waiting to be remembered.
A subcircular stone-walled enclosure (DG080-003011-) with an internal diameter of 10.75m. The wall from 1.25m to 1.5m in width, survives to a height of .55m. In places the wall incorporates rock outcrop and there is a 1.95m gap to the SE. At the centre of the enclosure is a cairn (DG080-003012-) c. 3.9m in diameter and 1.2m in height. On top of this is placed a slab (DG080-003013-) which has a crude cross-shaped elevation, .9m × 0.46m × 0.09m to .17m. On the W face is a simple inscribed cross. It is located at the N edge of the Glencolumbkille valley floor in pasture land. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.

What survives
Recorded monument

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