Description

The monument comprises a burial ground, possible chapel, and the remains of two carved stones which are situated within the W corner of a field known as Parc na h-Eaglais ('field of the church').

The burial ground, semi-circular on plan and measuring 22m in diameter, is defined by a low bank on the N but the S half has been traversed by later cultivation, surviving as rig and furrow. Within the interior is a building, possibly a chapel but more likely a later agricultural building. The burial ground is said to have been chiefly devoted to the interment of children, but its antiquity is shown by the existence of two carved stones of probable Early

Christian date. The larger of the stones is known as MacFie's stone because it is associated in local tradition with the murder in 1623 of the last chief of that clan. It originally stood on a low knoll 10m to the NE but was re-erected (upside-down) in 1977. A second smaller cross was discovered in 1979 during the construction of a modern railed enclosure around MacFie's stone, and has now been reburied.

The area to be scheduled measures 55m from SE to NW by 40m

transversely, to include the burial ground and crosses and an area around in which associated remains are likely to survive, but excluding the above ground structure of the modern railed enclosure, as marked in red on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because it is the site of an important Early Christian chapel which includes the remains of two crosses. It is likely to have been used for burial over many centuries and, in addition to having the potential to provide information about Christian burial rites and demographic data, may also contain the remains of an early chapel.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NR39SE14.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland