Cross head (Piece)

This piece of a slate cross head comes from Inchmarnock on Bute in the Inner Hebrides. It has a runic inscription. The simple cross may have been commissioned by a Christian Scandinavian settler sometime between 1000 and 1200.

The inscription is fragmentary at both ends. A translation of the surviving text is 'this cross to ...'.

In the early Historic period three alphabets were current: Latin, brought by the Christian church; ogham, originally developed by the Irish and used by both Scots and Picts; and runes brought by the Scandinavians. Most people, however, were illiterate.

Record details

To search on related items, click any linked text below.

Online ID:	000-100-043-467-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland X.IB 93
Date:	Between 1000 and 1200
Material:	Slate, schistose; inscribed with runes
Dimensions:	200 mm H x 25 mm L x 210 mm W
What:	Cross head / portion
Subject:
Who:
Where:	Scotland, Bute, Inchmarnock
Event:
Description:	Portion of a cross head of schistose slate inscribed with runes, from Inchmarnock, Bute
References:	Black, Geo. F. Notice of a fragment of a rune-inscribed cross-slab, found on Inchmarnock, Buteshire. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 24 (1889-90), pp 438-43.
Translations:
Related Records:

< 1 of 1 > Back