The Tipper Early Medieval Grave-Slab in 3D
Text and Models by Seán Sourke
Overview
Early Medieval Grave Slab, Tipper, Naas, Co. Kildare (National Monument KD019-039002)
Located in the graveyard of Tipper, south east of Naas, is this moss covered granite grave-slab of early medieval date. It is roughly carved along the sides and top, which are bevelled towards the rear, but is more smoothly dressed on its main surface. The latter is incised with a ringed cross atop a shaft that likely runs the stone’s full length.
Originally, such slabs were laid recumbent, however, as was the case here, they were often repurposed centuries later as vertical grave markers. When reused in this manner, they were typically buried deeply leaving only the upper section with the cross arms (or ring) above the ground level.
This grave slab is the only physical evidence of an early medieval date for the ecclesiastical site at Tipper (possibly associated with St Kevin). Within the graveyard are the partial walls of a late medieval church with a 15th century western residential tower. All the remaining headstones within the churchyard are modern. The earliest dated monument is a free-standing cross from 1616, see: https://kildarelocalhistory.ie/a-brief-history-of-co-kildare/co-kildare-monuments-in-3d/k3d-the-tipper-cross/.
NOTE: This model requires good bandwidth and a reasonably powerful computer to view successfully, as the download size is 284MB.
The Tipper Early Medieval Grave-Slab – Moonlit Simulation
NOTE: This model requires good bandwidth and a reasonably powerful computer to view successfully, as the download size is 280MB.