A rich heritage of Christian sculpture exists on the Island. The majority of stones are grave markers but a number of altar tops and frontals and one building dedication also survive. They are generally decorated with a cross and sometimes bear an inscription. Both the style of the cross and any inscriptions provide valuable dating evidence.

The simple and developed cross patterns evolved from the first widely adopted symbol of the Church, the chi-rho monogram. This represents Ch R the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ, “Christos”.

The earliest datable stones are grave memorials erected in the 6th century AD. They bear inscriptions in the Irish Ogham alphabet and Latin, the official language of the early Church.

The simplest incised crosses cannot be closely dated but probably also start in the 6th century AD whilst compass-arc decoration can be ascribed to the 7th and 8th centuries AD.

Ring-headed crosses, large slabs and carvings in low relief probably date from the 8th century AD onwards.

All but one of the simple crosses come from community cemeteries and most of the elaborate carvings of this period are associated with the Maughold monastery. Evidence for contact with Ireland is found on many monuments from Maughold dating from around 725 A.D. onwards and contact with Northern England and Southern Pictland (Eastern Scotland) is also indicated.