The Hartlepool Tombstones, and the Relations between Celtic and Teutonic Art in the Early Christian Period

Abstract

A series of small stone monuments found for the most part at Hartlepool in Durham, and commonly known as the Hartlepool Tombstones strongly resemble certain monuments of similar character in Ireland. They are Northumbrian in date and location, although at the time they were made Northumbria included eastern Scotland up to the Forth. A group of nine stones were found at different times in the first half of the 19th century during the disturbance of a burial ground. It is said that the human remains were reburied. The stones have both incised crosses and inscription in runic and Hiberno-Saxon characters. Similar stones have been found at Lindisfarne. The slabs are traditionally linked to to the early monastic settlement of the seventh century based on the orientation of the graves (north-south) and the presence of pillow stones and the early Anglian character of the names with the fact that they are partly in runes. It is argued that they may in fact be later. A detailed survey of the use of the cross in early Christian art is presented.