Cross-slab in Carrowntemple

Thirteen Early Christian slabs and a slab rough-out were found in various locations around Carrowntemple graveyard (SL044-056002-), mainly to the S and E of the church (SL044-056001-), and were described by Wallace and Timoney (1987, 43-61). Nine of the thirteen are cross-slabs, two are decorated with triskeles, one with a maze pattern and a fragment of one with an inscription. Six of these slabs are now in the NMI. The remainder, apart from one which is concealed in the graveyard, are in the care of Sligo County Council, some being on display in Sligo Museum. Replicas of twelve of them have been erected against the S wall of the old graveyard and there is a duplicate copy of one on top of the wall. The following description is based on Wallace and Timoney (ibid.) and the numbers assigned to the slabs in that publication have been retained. Slab 8: a square slab (0.74m x 0.73m; T 0.05m) with a square frame (0.43m x 0.43m) enclosing a symmetrical band of maze or fret pattern which in turn encloses a central plain rectangular shape (16.5cm x 12.5cm). This slab is in the National Museum of Ireland (DU018-230----). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Revised by: Paul Walsh Date of revision: 10 March 2010

Dated to the Early Christian period (5th–9th centuries AD), the cross-slab likely served a funerary or commemorative function, reflecting the spread of Christianity in the region. Its design may incorporate both Pictish and Insular artistic traditions, indicating cultural connections of the time.