The steps lead down to a crypt of great historical significance, with a barrel vault and small openings which let the light in from outside.  The east wall is on a different alignment from the rest of the church of the Picts which was terraced into the side of the hill.  This wall has an aumbry, or secure cupboard, for keeping the sacraments, or possibly relics.

The first crypt was built in the late 13^th century and was shaped like a rectangular room with straight sides.  This crypt was rebuilt after the Reformation of 1560, when the barrel vault was inserted.

A Pictish cemetery must have been disturbed by the construction of the first crypt because Pictish memorial stones have found their way into the fabric of the walls.  TARBAT 20, the Dragon Stone, on display in the Treasury, was extracted from the south east corner.  Another piece of sculpture, from a cross-slab, TARBAT 26, is still in situ in the north-east corner.

In the 15^th century the medieval crypt was the scene of a notorious episode when a raiding party of Sutherland Mackays took refuge within it.  Their pursuers, the Rosses, set fire to the building and clan leader Angus Mackay, almost certainly together with some of his followers, was killed.  Traces of a fire can still be seen on the stonework.

TARBAT 26, a fragment of a Pictish cross-slab, was found in the north wall of the crypt and is still in situ.

Aumbry

9th century east wall which is clearly on a different alignment from the rest of the church.

The 13th-century crypt had straight sides. The present barrel vault was added after the 1560 Reformation.		TARBAT 20, the Dragon Stone was found here in the south wall of the crypt and is now displayed in the Treasury.
		13th century doorway rebuilt after the 1560 Reformation.

13th century west wall.

Signs of burning from the fire of 1481 are still visible on the internal west wall of the crypt.

Mason’s mark on door jamb.