The Govan Stones are an absolute gem of a discovery and give
a fascinating glimpse into the depth of history of the Strathclyde area. During
an excavation in the kirkyard, a number of ancient stones, dating back to between the 9th and
11th centuries, were uncovered. It is thought that these
stones are so large and elaborate because they originally were carved to
commemorate the lives of some of the more powerful kings and families in the
ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde.
The church has done an amazing job of showcasing the 31
stones, which are displayed throughout the church, with storyboards explaining
the carvings and thoughts behind their meaning.
Perhaps the gem of the collection
are the 5 ‘hogback’ stones. While they were named because of their resemblance to
a hog’s back, they are also very much replicas of Viking ships which have been
upturned. Another tangible piece of history of Strathclyde’s historic
connection to Viking history.
And if the hogback stones are gems, then the crown jewel is
most definitely the stone sarcophagus, uncovered 1855 and thought to have held
the remains of St Constantine, son of Pictish King Kenneth MacAlpin, who died
in 876.
Strathclyde was a powerful ancient kingdom of the Britons
from the 5th to 8th centuries. The Kingdom was initially centred in Dumbarton
and spread all along the Clyde river. The Kindgom stretched all the way to
Cumbria in the south and then west over to Wales. The Govan Stones are tangible
proof of this. As such they need to be not only maintained, preserved and conserved
but also displayed in a way that the public can see them, enjoy them and learn
from them.
Two years ago, the Govan Stones were deemed “a wee gem of a
museum” by Dig
It – celebrating Scotland’s archaeology.
The stones are housed in Old Govan Parish Church.
Surrounding the church is a very old, very historic graveyard – proven by the
fact that these stones and the sarcophagus were once buried here. The church is
an A-listed building. A building of national
or international importance. It was recently slated to be closed, leaving
access to the stones also closed.
As a last minute effort to keep the church
open and the stones and sarcophagus available to the public, the Govan Heritage
Trust has managed to stop the closure. However, this is a short-term fix and
money is desperately needed in order to keep the building open long term. The
Govan Stones have launched an appeal for funding. To assist with this appeal,
please visit The
Govan Stones Appeal website. Please help to keep this historically significant
collection open to the public.
