What is recorded here

Breakage and weather have stolen the right arms, yet the triple ring still holds the square centre above the name ANHCO. The stone measures barely more than a cubit, small enough for one buried person and one remembered life. Clonmacnoise kept that much of the dead intact when so much else dissolved into soil and legend.

Clonmacnoise grave-slab inventory (1992) number: CLN00163 Dimensions: H 0.62, W 0.60, T 0.06 A triple outline ring cross with square centre. The arms are joined by the ring. Inscription: 'ANHCO' underneath the cross. Evidence of discovery: Drawn by M. Stokes from a rubbing by J. Graves and W.M. Hennessey. Condition: Upper/right cross arms broken off. Very worn. National Monuments Service, Photo number: 81-193, 250, 322, 375, 882, 883 Stokes, M. (1878) Christian Inscriptions in the Irish language, Vol 1, p XXX, no. 80 Lionard, Early Irish Grave-slabs, PRIA 60(1959-60), p 119, Fig 14, no. 11. The Clonmacnoise inventory was compiled by the Office of Public Works. A copy of the record for this slab is available for inspection in the relevant Archaeological Survey of Ireland (SMR) file. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

Date likely to the 9th to 11th century AD, consistent with early Christian inscribed cross-slabs in Ireland. The inscription "ANHCO" may be a personal name or abbreviation, and the cross form reflects Christian symbolism, possibly marking a burial or memorial site.

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