Macalistkk — The History and Antiquities of Inis Cealtra. 151 



Tenth century : slabs with Latin crosses, having circular expansions in 



the middle and semicircular expansions at the ends of the arms. 



The expansions are sometimes square. 

 Eleventh century : similar to the last, but with loops at the angles of the 



terminal expansions. 

 Twelfth century : long slabs, rectangular in shape, covering the grave and 



bearing a long Latin cross. 



The division by centuries is, perhaps, a little rough and ready, but it is 

 convenient, and cannot be far wrong. The two cemeteries differ considerably 

 in their contents. At Clonmacnois there are very few indeed of the twelfth- 

 century type, to which, on the other hand, the great majority of the Inis Cealtra 

 slabs belong ; and whereas most of the Clonmacnois slabs are of the tenth and 

 eleventh centuries, these groups are but poorly represented at Inis Cealtra. 



We describe first the slabs still to be seen on the island, and then notice 

 a few that have disappeared. 



(a) Eighili-ccntury Type. 



(18). CCN 1. Plate XVI, fig. 5. A stone, measuring 1 foot 3i inches by 



1 foot 5i inches by 2i inches, bearing a Latin cross of one \\\\e,fourcMe. The 

 branches expand in the upper and lower ends, contract at the side ends. 

 The stem is accidentally prolonged at the lower end, so that this terminal 

 appears to be trifid. 



(19). CCS 3. Plate XVI, fig. 6. A stone, measuring 1 foot 6 inches by 1 foot 

 4^ inches by 3 inches, bearing a plain one-line Greek cross within the circle. 

 The whole of the circle is recessed about \ inch beneath the surface of 

 the stone. 



(20). CCS 2. Plate XVI, fig. 7 ; BW, plate 2, under fig. F. Stone, measuring 



2 feet 3 inches by 1 foot 6 inches by 3i inches, bearing a Greek cross of four 

 lines within a square of two lines ; four-line diagonals are stopped by two- 

 line circles in the cantons of the cross. The angles of the cross are hollowed 

 and all joints are mitred. 



(21). CCN 3. Plate XVI, fig. 8 ; BW, plate 2, under fig. G. Stone, measur- 

 ing 1 foot 7 inches by 1 foot 1 inch by 3 inches. Within a circle of two 

 lines, a cross formed of four arcs of circles, interlacing at the intersection ; 

 the ends of the arcs are terminated with a spiral treatment. In the cantons 

 are triskeles of one line. 



22*] 



