Biozat No. 1

Listed and illustrated in Le Patrimoine des communes de l'Allier (1999, v. 1, p. 375) as a square mounted limestone font of the 12th century. It appears to be a rather uncommon type for this area of France, a square basin with large heads carved on the corners and a standing figure or scene on each of the basin sides. The base, a cylindrical pedestal, does not match the basin at all, and there is a pyramidal cover of modern date. On-site notes: three of the corner "heads" look like crudely-carved skulls, whereas the fourth is clearly human with a short mane; the basin sides have the following images: 1)St. Peter holding the key; this has the only legible label under it: "S : Ps."; 2)figure of a bishop with mitre and staff; only the "S" remains of the label below; 3)cleric holds a candle on the right hand and a book on the left; a small-case "b" is legible on the label below; 4)a warrior/knight figure stands with a sword in his right hand and a head, probably his own, in the left hand; no legible label. The basin is a top of a column and obviously not an original part of this font. The small and rather shallow square basin well has no drain and is rather uncharacteristic for this early period. Is this a recycled object? Also, what to make of the large rectangular object in the churchyard?