Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/70

58 moved, and only the intermediate ones left, as in No. 16; but these are of rare occurrence. Examples with six members, instead of four or eight, are still more rare, as No. 7. Some irregular varieties, as Nos. 4 and 8, can hardly be reduced to any rule.

These remains are also interesting as shewing the early use of head-stones with the sacred symbol cut upon them, being probably among the oldest examples yet discovered in this country, and in greater number and variety than has yet been noticed.

Of these head-stones, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, are in Mr. Bateman's possession; they are rudely cut, and appear to be of very early date. No. 4 is an ancient form of the cross, of which probably the device upon No. 16 of the flat grave-stones may be considered to be a modification, and of which many examples, both with and without circular bands, and with a great variety in the detail of their ornaments, may be observed in Norman carved work; as in St. Peter's church at Northampton, before alluded to, the nave of Rochester cathedral, and some other of the older churches. It would be an interesting subject for enquiry, whether this form of cross, which resembles what is commonly called a St. Andrew's cross, may have had its origin in the Greek letter X, as used in the abbreviation of the name of our Lord from a very remote period. It is certainly remarkable that the device which is cut upon a large portion of the earlier tombs in the catacombs at Rome is not the cross, but the sacred monogram, composed of X and P, the two first letters of. And in some later examples a kind of short shaft is added, so as to resemble in some measure the form of the cross, and the whole figure surrounded by a wreath or circle. Nos. 2, 6, have the same device on both sides. No. 7 is represented somewhat too large, being about the size of No. 6.

These stones have been considered as head-stones, because it seemed most probable they had been used for that purpose. It ought however to be stated, that about the period to which they maybe referred, crosses were sometimes placed at the foot of the grave as well as at the head. Some examples of head-stones, with inscriptions upon them as early as the sixth or seventh century, are said to exist in Ireland. 2em