Early Medieval Grave-Slab, Naas, Co. Kildare3D ModelNoAI
National Monument KD019-039002
Located in the neglected graveyard of Tipper is this moss covered granite early medieval grave slab. It is roughly carved along the sides and top, which are bevelled towards the rear, but is more smoothly dressed on its main surface. The latter is incised with a ringed cross atop a shaft that likely runs the stone’s full length. Originally, such slabs were laid recumbent, but, as was the case here, they were often repurposed (centuries later) as vertical grave markers; normally being deeply buried in the process leaving only the upper section above ground.
This grave slab is the only physical evidence of an early medieval date for the site (possibly associated with St Kevin). Within the graveyard are the partial walls of a late medieval church with a 15th century residential western tower. All headstones within the churchyard are modern. The earliest dated monument is a free-standing cross from 1616, see: https://skfb.ly/ovEWX (annotated); https://skfb.ly/ovEWY (monotone).
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