BGCP_36

Cross (fragment)

Site co-ordinates: 48.70/25.10

3D model here

This fragment of a larger broken slab measures 0.77 m (W–E) by up to 0.57 m (N–S). It has clearly been broken on its irregular N side, and the cross carved on it lies asymmetrically towards the N and has lost part of its N arm. The W and E faces are straighter and near parallel, and so could be the sides of a wider and originally much longer slab, while its S side has a regular convex line which may indicate the head of the slab. The stone slopes 15° to the S.

However, the cross carved in raised relief on the stone has a longer arm to the E (0.16 m) than to the W (0.14 m) possibly indicating that the head of the slab lies at the W. While both the N and S arms have been damaged, it is possible that the N arm was originally the stem of a slightly asymmetrical cross carved near centrally at the head of a 0.77 m wide slab. The arms are all 0.12–0.13 m wide. 

The southern part of stone appears to have been cut down to a lower level than the surface on which the cross is carved, although this may be natural, or damage. The edges of this lower level are defined by two near-straight lines forming an apex above the cross’s S arm.

If the present S side of this stone was its original head, the stone has since been rotated 90° anticlockwise. This stone would be the widest of the presumed medieval grave slabs so far recorded in the graveyard. 

For further information on sources see BGCP Bibliographic References after the last entry.