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Holm of Daltallochan cross slab is a carved stone monument in Kirkcudbrightshire, southwestern Scotland. Dating to the early medieval period, this cross slab represents a tradition of Christian commemoration and artistic expression common across Scotland between the 6th and 12th centuries. The monument consists of a stone bearing an incised or relief cross design, characteristic of the period's religious material culture. Such slabs typically marked significant locations within monastic settlements or served as burial markers and focal points for Christian worship.
The slab is situated on land underlain by the Kirkcolm Formation, a wacke deposit of Caradocian age, which forms part of the Southern Uplands' geological foundation. This sedimentary rock type, composed of mixed sandy and silty deposits, provided the local stone accessible to craftspeople working in the region. The choice of stone and its carving reflect the resources and skilled practices available within the medieval community.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under scheduled monument status, reference SM1106, securing its preservation as a significant cultural and archaeological resource. This legal protection recognises the slab's importance to understanding early medieval settlement patterns, Christian practice, and artistic achievement in Kirkcudbrightshire.
Holm of Daltallochan,cross slab is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1106. View the official record →
Holm of Daltallochan cross slab is a carved stone monument in Kirkcudbrightshire, southwestern Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1106.
Holm of Daltallochan,cross slab is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM1106.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Holm of Daltallochan,stone circle & standing stone (0.1 km), Cairn Avel,cairn 800m S of Carsphairn (1.8 km), Woodhead lead mines and smelter,Carsphairn (2.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Holm of Daltallochan,cross slab's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Holm of Daltallochan,cross slab stands on Kirkcolm Formation, bedrock that formed in the Caradocian. The rock here is wacke.