Old Stone Carving

[Kirbstone]

Once again we've been away with our Archaeological Soc. crawling over old ruins, with which this island is liberally endowed.

Of the country's carved stone high crosses, two still stand out in the weather where they were put 1,100 years ago at Monasterboice, Co. Louth. One is probably the daddy of them all.

Archae. trip July 2012 004.jpg

I was always wondering how those transverse arms stayed up all that time and now I know. They're held up by hand!!

Archae. trip July 2012 005.jpg

My MM suggested we try the 'Beam-me-up-Scotty' facility at nearby Mellifont abbey, but we got nowhere, so we're still here.

Archae. trip July 2012 003.jpg

T.

[Tassierob]

Living in a country that is only 200 years old in architectural terms I am always in awe at anything that old. And what fantastic skill to carve something that is still so good after 1,100 years!
The closest I get out here is watching Time Team on the ABC every week!
Looking at the smiles I think the "Beam Me Up" facility certainly took you away somewhere

[crfriend]

Those are stunning shots, Tom, and I'm in awe of the detail work in "held up by hand". What keeps the pigeons off the big one? It seems like the others are rather liberally encrusted with what looks like guano. (Later edit: It might also be lichen based on the stones in the foreground.)

I'll note that the third photo is especially infectious as it looks like your MM couldn't keep a straight face whilst you mugged for the camera. Priceless! (I notice that your MM is wearing a delightful long mono-tube garment and it looks like you were wearing tr*users. What gives?)

Rob's right, that "beaming device" took the both of you to another place, if only for a few moments. What's a "moment", anyway?

[Kirbstone]

An interesting observation, Carl, about the 'guano'....which it isn't. It may be the type of stone and the sort of finish it has, but all the stones & crosses round about the big one are themselves anything from 120 to 300 years old. The white infestation is a lichen, which seems not to like the stone of the very old cross and it has remained largely free. The site is very rural and there are no pigeons about that we could see.
I didn't ask our guide about it, but there is the possibility that the famous old cross has from time to time been officially cleaned. I'll find out.

Most of the other very old crosses, e.g. those at Clonmacnoise have been moved indoors into interpretive centres nearby and replaced by very good replicas on the original sites.

The 'Transportation' was brief as you & Rob suggest. It was an idea hit upon by a friend who suggested we stand into those arches for the pic. Except for very rare fancy-dress parties I always wear duotubes when in my MM's company, alas.

T.

[Since1982]

What creates the white spots and splotches on the stonework ??

Carl said: That photo is pure magic! The scene is wonderful, and the expressions on both of your faces speak volumes;

If the people were not dressed modern, you could easily transplant those scenes and general "LOOK" of the area 1,000 years into the past without noticing any changes.

[crfriend]

[...] The white infestation is a lichen, which seems not to like the stone of the very old cross and it has remained largely free.

I went back to the pictures, looked carefully, and revised my opinion. I guess the "city boy" in me is showing through. I should remember my rocks out back.

The 'Transportation' was brief as you & Rob suggest. It was an idea hit upon by a friend who suggested we stand into those arches for the pic. Except for very rare fancy-dress parties I always wear duotubes when in my MM's company, alas.

That photo is pure magic! The scene is wonderful, and the expressions on both of your faces speak volumes; you manage to retain composure and she is almost bursting out laughing. You remain a dashing couple, and long may it stay so!

By the by, congratulate her on her dress -- she's in frame in the first photo -- and it's a very nice one: a lovely pattern and an extravagant length. 'Tis a shame you're "disallowed" monotubes -- either by her or your doing -- in her presence as from other photographic evidence you wear them well.

[crfriend]

What creates the white spots and splotches on the stonework ??

The other posts point up that it's a lichen -- a symbiotic fungus/algae combination that lives quite handily on the surface of stones and the like and can survive in very harsh environments indeed.