Inscribed Stones
The earliest evidence of Christianity in west Wales is found inscribed on stones. Some stones are marked with simple crosses and others have Latin and Irish Ogam text.
The largest concentration of Early Christian carved stones in Ceredigion is at Llanddewi Brefi. They date from around the sixth to the ninth century, and most of them are marked with simple Latin crosses. Two have Latin inscriptions, and evidently marked burials. One of them is the earliest evidence for St David, as it suggests that Idnert son of Iacobus was killed as a result of the plundering of St David. This might allude to some kind of raid on the church or shrine which was dedicated to David.
A tenth-century cross-inscribed stone stands outside the east end of the present church at Strata Florida, and gravemarkers of a similar or slightly later date can be found outside the ruins of the south-west transept of the abbey. Further stones were found at the churches at Tregaron, Lampeter and Llanwenog although they have subsequently been lost or moved to museums. Stones carved with pattern and a Latin text also survive at the church in Silian near Lampeter (now closed).
