Summary

Nordic cross slab of garnet metapelite with a runic inscription reading 'This cross was raised in memory of Thorgerth, daughter of Steinar', from Kilbar, Barra, 10th to early 11th century

Accession Number

X.IB 102

Other references

Original description

SCULPTURED STONES, CROSSES, ETC. Sculptured Stone, 44 x 15", on obverse, Celtic cross, on reverse, inscription in runes. Kilbar, Barra. Anon notes, ECM 114, fig 118, 118A. MOSAICS note, April 1997: This Norse cross-slab was recognised in 1865 in the disused burial ground of the ruined church of Kilbar on the Outer Hebridean Island of Barra. The front is a cross filled with rather irregular interlace formed from four bands. On either side of the shaft are S-scrolls and key pattern. The top of the slab is damaged. The back has a runic description, set out in two lines reading vertically downwards. The inscription reads: 'This cross was raised in memory of Thorgerth, daughter of Steinar'. 10th - early 11th century. Updated from SCRAN full data set, December 1998. A.S. note, 22.1.99: stone identified macroscopically by Dr Suzanne Miller, Geology, as a garnet metapelite, of local origin. January 1999.

Associated person/people (e.g. excavator/former collection)

Thorgerth
Steinar

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

Not recorded

Method (e.g. excavation)

Not recorded

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

Kilbar, Barra, Inverness-shire, Scotland, Northern Europe

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1880

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Mrs Gordon

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Donor

Image