caithness-1911/05_159

Transcription

[Page] 82 -- HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION.

PARISH OF LATHERON.

diameter; and the lateral arms are slightly inclined upwards. The
stem is 9" long.
O.S.M., CAITH., xxxiv. Visited, 16th July 1910.

297. Sculptured Stone, Lybster. - Lying on the grassy slope between
the two ranges of cottages that run N. and S. to the NE. of the
harbour of Lybster, and some 40 yards S. of the northmost cottages, is
a block of yellow sandstone (fig. 17). In form it is roughly triangular,

[Drawing inserted]
FIG. 17. - Sculptured Stone, Lybster (No. 297).

measuring some 2' 2" x 3'. A large basin-shaped depression, which
appears to be natural, runs in from the left edge, and another large
hole has been worn by weather near the lower end of the stone. Cut
across the right-hand corner is an equal-limbed Celtic cross measuring
1' 8" in width. The arms expand outwards from 5 1/2" to 7" and their
extreme length is 8 3/4". Set within this cross is another with arms
6 3/4" in length and 1 3/4" in width.
This stone is referred to in the description of the parish of
Latheron (circa 1726), published in Macfarlane's Geographical Col-
lections, as follows: "On the face of a brae above the inlett of this burn
(Risgil) there is a stone to which, as the natives tell, many frequented
in the time of superstition. It's hollow where they sate and on the
back there is the figure of a cross tripled cutt out. ther are some
hollow places on both sides as if designed for both the elbows."
See Macfarlane's Geog. Coll., i p. 166.
O.S.M., CAITH., xxxiv. (unnoted). Visited, 19th July 1910.

298. Cross Slab (portion of), Latheron. - Built into the W. wall
of the old barn by the roadside, about 1/4 m. S. of Latheron Post Office,
is a stone incised with a portion of a Celtic cross. Its position is 13'
from the N. end of the wall and 3' 9" above the ground. The stone
is 2' 3" in length by 1' 1" in breadth. The upper arm of the cross
and the greater parts of the side arms are gone. The stem remains
for a length of 1' 7", and increases in width from 6" at the intersection
to 8 1/2" at its present termination. The angles at the points of inter-
section are filled with circular discs 2" in diameter.
O.S.M., CAITH., xxxix. and xliii. (unnoted). Visited, 26th July 1910.

299. Sculptured Stone with Ogham inscription. - Built into the
wall, in the interior of the old barn mentioned in the previous
paragraph, was found a few years ago a sculptured stone bearing