This was one of two designs used to safely anchor the crosses in the open-air in this wet and windy land.

This stone collar would have been placed into a foundation pit. Wooden levers were used to erect the cross, more stones were packed in, and the foundation was covered with earth.

The Whithorn crosses were designed to stand upright and therefore there are probably many more bases buried beneath the ground or re-used as building stones. Plain cross bases are difficult to date.