A (top): Although this is merely a small fragment which has been squared off for reuse as building stone, it is clear that it comes from a large grave-cover with incised decoration. The upper surface was probably flat, and was bounded by a border moulding of rectangular section. The remains of two panels survive. The decoration in each consisted of an incised cross with wedge-shaped arms similar to type B8, each arm probably being of equal length and seemingly formed of multiple concentric grooves.

The reconstruction of the pattern made by Butler (1964, fig. 2A) cannot, however, be arrived at from the surviving fragment.

This fragment represents a cover whose decoration should probably be reconstructed as in Fig. 30. There is no really close parallel in Lincolnshire, but this repeated pattern of geometrical incised lines forming lozenges is clearly related both to covers like those from Crowland Abbey (Ill. 143) and Sleaford St Denys (no. 3, Ill. 429) and to the presumed cover at North Kelsey (Ill. 419). There are, however, several closer parallels outside the county; at Adel, Yorkshire WR (Lewthwaite 1867–8, 204), Forcett, Yorkshire NR, and St Andrew Auckland and Gainford, both co. Durham (Cramp 1984, pls. 6, 18 and 66, 318). There are also close parallels in the East Midlands at Barnack, Soke of Peterborough, and Greetham, Rutland. Both of these examples are in the gritty ragstone from the quarries in the Barnack area in the lower Welland valley, and Whaplode 2 seems to be made of this same stone type. It seems, then, that Whaplode 2 represents a widely distributed cover type, which was produced at the Barnack area quarries amongst others. This group of covers decorated with lozenges was considered by Butler (1964, 119) to be late eleventh century in date, but the Crowland Abbey cover, which belongs to this group but which was unknown to Butler, has features which strongly suggest that it, and therefore the lozenge tradition, were also found earlier in the eleventh century.