47-560: The Govan Stones is an internationally-important museum collection of early-medieval carved stones displayed at Govan Old Parish Church in Glasgow , Scotland . The carved stones come from the surrounding early medieval heart-shaped churchyard and include the Govan Sarcophagus, four upstanding crosses, five Anglo-Scandinavian style hogbacks , and a wide range of recumbent cross market slab burial monuments, all likely dating to
94-494: A Pictish-style stag hunting scene and various stylised animals. Carved from solid sandstone, the sarcophagus is the only one of its kind from pre- Norman , Northern Britain. The stones have been dated back to the 9th–11th centuries, a period when Vikings raided the Clyde region and the territories beyond. The contemporary Annals of Ulster tell us that Vikings destroyed the twin citadel at Dumbarton Rock , strategically located at
141-463: A cross with an incised border, which consistently divides the stone into at least two panels. For each stone, there is a plain border that defines the edge of the monument. Finally, of the twenty-one recumbent cross-slabs on display, at least five show evidence for a regionally significant feature known as 'angle-knobs'. These tombstones are of particular importance to any future tourism development and hold great potential. The British Museum affirmed
188-467: A previously undiscovered early medieval carved stone was discovered by Professor Stephen Driscoll during the re-excavation of an area Prof. Driscoll dug as part of the Time Team programme in 1996. The stone differs from the other early medieval carved stones in the collection in that it is lightly incised. Although damaged, it depicts what appears to be a warrior, with a small, circular shield held over
235-443: A schoolboy named Mark McGettigan revealed long-lost medieval stone carvings. The stones were assumed to have been demolished by chance when the neighbouring Harland & Wolff shipyard plaring shed was demolished in the 1970s. As Professor Stephen Driscoll noted, "This the most exciting discovery we have had at Govan in the last 20 years. The Govan Stones are a collection of international importance and these recovered stones reinforce
282-472: A trench with smaller stones used to create a level surface, supported an early medieval wooden church [1] . The Govan Sarcophagus is a monumental stone coffin with an ornately carved exterior; it was rediscovered when the church sexton was digging a grave in the south-east corner of the churchyard in December 1855, surrounded by roots from two elm trees. No human remains were found with the sarcophagus, so it
329-452: Is Constantine of Strathclyde, but most scholars agree that the coffin most likely would have been dedicated to Constantine f. Kenneth (AD 862–878) or Donald f. Constantine (AD 889–900). Because of its highly decorated exterior, it is assumed that the coffin was meant to display the remains of the saint as a focal piece in the church. The coffin itself depicts Insular iconography, taking inspiration from different styles that were then popular in
376-575: Is a ‘Lamb of God’ motif. Two panels depicting beasts in various configurations are found on the other long face of the sarcophagus: in one, four ‘beasts’ are pseudo-mirrored across the vertical and horizontal axes of the panel, though there are differences in each beast's design. In the second panel, two long-necked animals cross necks and interlace their tongue/ears with the other beast's tail; similar motifs, where beasts cross legs, necks, or other body parts, can also be found in Pictish sculpture. The rest of
423-500: Is currently displayed upside down next to the hogback stones in the (ecclesiastical) north transept. Though most of the details on the broad face of the cross facing the visitor has been damaged or eroded, the two side faces are comparatively well-preserved. These are mostly decorated with median-incised interlace, though this also retains the only figural sculpture that can be interpreted as a biblical scene – possibly David being anointed by Samuel. The two upright cross-slabs include
470-410: Is of Durham ) and a historical compilation Historia regum Anglorum et Dacorum . The Libellus de Exordio , a history of the community of Durham (originally settled at Lindisfarne ) from its inception to the year 1096, is by far his most important work. Composed between 1104 and 1107, Symeon's task (imposed on him by his monastic superiors) was to demonstrate the continuity of Durham's history despite
517-400: Is possible that a predecessor of the 12th-century royal estate at Partick and the now-destroyed Doomster Hill (which is thought to have functioned as a Viking-style ' thing ' site or moot/meeting place, having been adapted from a possible Bronze-Age burial mound) played a part in this power shift. The size of the graveyard and the sheer amount of early medieval sculpture suggest that the church
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#1732783983004564-469: Is this text which has been most often published. The Durham manuscript also contains two anonymous continuations of Symeon's work. The first carries the history from 1096 to the death of Ranulf Flambard (1129); the second extends from 1133 to 1144. A Cambridge manuscript ( Cambridge University Library , Ff. i.27) contains a third continuation covering the years 1145-1154. Another manuscript (London, British Library , Cotton Faustina A.V) seems to represent
611-537: Is thought that it was buried at an earlier date to protect the monument, perhaps during the Scottish Reformation when iconoclasm was common practice. Today, the sarcophagus is on prominent display in the Govan Stones museum. The sarcophagus is supposed to have been dedicated to the patron saint of the church, St Constantine. There is much debate over which Constantine is the patron, and whether it
658-591: The Liber Vitae , the so-called Cantor's Book (whose text he would have had to keep up to date as part of his duties as precentor), and in copies of his own historical works. Symeon was author of two historical works which are particularly valuable for northern affairs, the Libellus de Exordio atque Procursu istius, hoc est Dunelmensis, Ecclesie ( The Little Book on the Origins and Progress of this Church, that
705-897: The Historiae Anglicanae Scriptores Decem of Roger Twysden (1652). The most complete modern edition is that of Thomas Arnold ( Rolls series , 2 vols., 1882–1885). For the Libellus , now see Rollason's 2000 edition. The value of the Old Northumbrian Annals , which Symeon used for the Historia regum , has been discussed by John Hodgson-Hinde in the preface to his Symeonis Dunelmensis opera , vol. i. pp. xiv. ff. (1868); by R. Pauli in Forschungen zur deutschen Geschichte , xii. pp. 137 sqq. (Göttingen, 1872); and by William Stubbs in
752-529: The Inverted (or Upside Down) Cross . These would have been decorated on all four faces and, when whole, would have been part of a free-standing cross, probably in a form similar to the more intact Barochan Cross , now housed at Paisley Museum. The Govan Cross is often referred to as the Jordanhill Cross because it was gifted to the residents of Jordanhill House at some point when one of the churches
799-458: The "Govan Warrior". The excavations and surveys were undertaken by University of Glasgow Archaeology students, Clyde Archaeology and community volunteers. The Channel 4 archeology programme Time Team dug in the graveyard of the Govan Old in the fourth episode of series 4 , recorded in summer 1996 and broadcast early 1997. In March 2019, ′Stones and Bones′ community archaeologists with
846-733: The 12th century AD. In it, Simeon records the return of the Northumbrian army from 'Ovania' after attacking Dumbarton Rock (Alt Clut) in AD 756. Originally, the Annals of Ulster recorded Dumbarton Rock as the centre of the Brittonic Kingdom of Alt Clud (usually pre-emptively referred to as the Kingdom of Strathclyde, but which is more accurately described as ‘the kingdom of the Rock of
893-538: The 1990s uncovered two early Christian burials beneath the foundations of a later church; these burials were radiocarbon-dated between the 5th and 6th centuries AD (AD 435-601 and AD 474-601). Despite this early activity, it wasn't until the 9th and 10th centuries that Govan Old rose to prominence: indeed, there are few historical references to Govan in the interim, though there appears to be one reference included in Symeon of Durham 's Historia Regum , compiled sometime in
940-484: The 9th-11th centuries AD. Govan Old and the Govan Stones museum are open daily between April 1 and October 31 from 1pm-4pm. Operated by the Govan Heritage Trust charity, admission is free, although visitors can make donations and the museum's gift-shop raises money for the upkeep of the property and its collections. The carved stones are thought to have been created to commemorate the power and wealth of
987-593: The Clyde’) from the 6th century AD until the later 9th century AD. In AD 870, the Annals of Ulster record a Viking raid on Dumbarton Rock ; after this point, the kings of Clyde Rock are no longer discussed. In 872, the Annals of Ulster instead refer to the kingdom of Ystrad Clud , better known as the Kingdom of Strathclyde , which appears to mark the shift of political power from Dumbarton Rock further upstream to Govan. It
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#17327839830041034-655: The Govan Stones and the early medieval Kingdom of Strathclyde and its neighbours. In July 2024, Current Archaeology included the podcast in its What's On listings. Govan Old Parish Church Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.236 via cp1112 cp1112, Varnish XID 952050042 Upstream caches: cp1112 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:53:03 GMT Symeon of Durham Symeon (or Simeon ) of Durham (died after 1129)
1081-551: The Irish Sea Region. One face of the sarcophagus shows a hunting scene of a horseman chasing a stag, perhaps accompanied by a dog, a motif frequently used in Pictish art that is thought to convey an association with royalty and power. The sarcophagus also shows an animal trampling another two creatures: a snake and what may be a wolf; the angular decoration of the triumphant animal has led many scholars to suggest that this
1128-552: The Sun Stone, the Govan Sarcophagus and the Govan Warrior), and the tenon joint for the presumed cross-head. While the stone appears plain today, this is because it has been severely eroded and was also reused as an Early Modern grave cover with carved initials; hints of a panel of interlace are preserved under the horseman. The recumbent cross-slabs take up the largest proportion of the Govan Stones collection; twenty-one of
1175-617: The case for regarding Govan as a major early medieval centre of power." In September 2023, the discovery of the 'Govan Warrior' made national news across a range of media, including newspapers such as The Scotsman, The Herald and the Evening Times, British Archaeology magazine, and on the BBC Scotland news programme, The Nine. In January 2024, the Govan Early Medieval Podcast (GEMcast) began to feature
1222-519: The confluence of the Clyde and Leven rivers, in AD 870 after a four-month siege. This fortress, known as Alt Clut or Alt Clud in the local Northern Brittonic (Cumbric) language, was the centre of an ancient kingdom of Clyde Britons . With the king of Alt Clut, Artgal , either killed or enslaved by the Vikings, Govan and Partick, further up the river, gained great strategic importance as a new dynasty
1269-516: The five in Govan. "It underpins this idea that this British kingdom of Strathclyde has some strong connections with the Scandinavian world. My feeling is that this is meant to represent a lord's hall or a chieftain's hall." - Stephen Driscoll, Professor of Historical Archaeology at Glasgow University . The sarcophagus was discovered in Govan Old's graveyard in 1855 when a grave was being dug to
1316-521: The foundation of Durham (when Cuthbert's body, being moved across England on a cart, refused to be moved, signalling his desire to remain at Durham, see Libellus iii.1), and several picturesque deaths visited upon the enemies of Cuthbert's devotees. Several versions of the Libellus survive from the Middle Ages. Symeon's own revised copy can be found in Durham, University Library, Cosin V.II.6. It
1363-595: The fourteen originally thought destroyed – had survived. The remaining carved stones are the Govan Sarcophagus , five hogback stones (of a Viking-Age type originating in Anglo-Scandinavian Yorkshire), four standing crosses and twenty-one recumbents. The centrepiece of the collection is the Govan Sarcophagus, which is thought to commemorate St. Constantine , the son of Pictish king Kenneth MacAlpin . It features carvings of
1410-410: The importance of the collection when they took one of the hogback stones to London as part of the exhibition Vikings: Life and Legend (March 2014 to June 2014). In August 2017, the Govan Stones were voted Scotland's best 'hidden gem' in a nationwide competition, receiving more than two thousand votes in the nationwide poll. They have been described as of international significance. In September 2023,
1457-477: The later four hogbacks are thought to date to later in the 10th. The five hogbacks in Govan Old are generally known as Govan 2 , Govan 3 , Govan 4 , Govan 5 and Govan 6 . All were discovered within the footprint of Govan Old's early medieval churchyard. Two cross-shafts and two upright cross-slabs are also on display. The cross-shafts include the Govan Cross , also known as the 'Jordanhill' Cross, and
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1504-588: The major phases of the community's development in the constant presence of their patron, Saint Cuthbert . The miracles worked in Cuthbert's name during the late Anglo-Saxon period were particularly flamboyant, and the Libellus contains engaging accounts of some of these, including the miracle of the three waves (when Cuthbert turned a portion of the Irish Sea into blood in order to prevent his followers from taking his relics out of England, see Libellus ii.11),
1551-521: The notable disruptions the community weathered during the Viking invasions and even more recently in the Norman Conquest . Symeon sought furthermore to justify William of Saint-Calais's expulsion of Durham's clerical community in 1083, in order to replace it with a group of Benedictine monks drawn from Wearmouth and Jarrow. Like earlier Durham writers, Symeon finds historical continuity between
1598-418: The originally recorded thirty-seven are on display, arranged around the interior walls of the church. Unfortunately, these monuments have received less attention relative to the others because they have been differentially worn and liberally reused since at least the 17th century. While the cross-slabs vary in size, in shape and in the decorative motifs used, there are some features they share: they each exhibit
1645-509: The rulers of the Brittonic Kingdom of Strathclyde , which was part of Yr Hen Ogledd ('The Old North'). Forty-five stones existed as late as the 1970s. However, fourteen 'recumbent gravestones' (funerary markers laid flat over the grave), which had not been taken into the church and were lying next to the east wall of the churchyard, were thought to have been destroyed when the neighbouring Harland and Wolff shipyard plating shed
1692-404: The shoulder of a side-on human figure via a strap. The person appears to be carrying a staff, spear or sword that is resting on the left shoulder. Much of the face is destroyed, but appears to show a sharply-pointed beard and a pony tail, with the latter aspect known from other stones in the existing collection. Due to its find location and apparent martial attributes, the figure has been nicknamed
1739-416: The so-called Sun Stone and Cuddy Stane . The Sun Stone is heavily eroded, but it is decorated with a large boss from which emerge four snakes, arranged in such a way that it appears sun-like, above an angular interlace panel. On the other broad face, it is decorated with a cross, median-incised interlace, and a rider on one face. Though there is a tenon on top of the stone slab, some scholars have argued this
1786-427: The south east of the church. Recognising their significance and to protect the stones from the elements, they were moved from the surrounding graveyard and placed on display within the church itself in 1926. Until that point, the stones had lain in the churchyard for over a thousand years. It is believed that the site's earliest Christian activity began sometime in the 5th or 6th century AD. Archaeological excavations in
1833-521: The space on the sarcophagus is filled with panels of median-incised interlace, some of which represent snakes, which a relatively common motif in Insular sculpture, thought to be a symbol of death and resurrection. There are five hogbacks at in the Govan Stones museum at Govan Old Parish Church . While the earliest Govan hogback, known as Govan 2, is considered to date to the early 10th century,
1880-618: The text of the Libellus before the revisions found in the Durham manuscript. A full list of manuscripts can be found on the Libellus de Exordio page. About 1129 Symeon undertook to write a Historia regum Anglorum et Dacorum . This begins at the point where the Ecclesiastical History of Bede ends. Up to 957 Simeon merely copies some old Durham annals, not otherwise preserved, which are of value for northern history; from that point to 1119 he copies John of Worcester with certain interpolations. The section dealing with
1927-416: The years 1119-1129 is, however, an independent and practically contemporaneous narrative. Symeon writes, for his time, with ease and perspicuity; but his chief merit is that of a diligent collector and copyist . Symeon also wrote brief biographies of the archbishops of York and a letter on the errors of Origen . Other writings have been attributed to his pen, but on no good authority. They are printed in
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1974-503: Was an English chronicler and a monk of Durham Priory . Symeon entered the Benedictine monastery at Jarrow as a youth. It moved to Durham in 1074, and he was professed in 1085 or 1086. When William of Saint-Calais returned from his Norman exile in 1091, Symeon was probably in his company. Symeon eventually became precentor of the priory , and examples of his handwriting appear to survive in several Durham books, including
2021-404: Was being replaced, though there are conflicting accounts as to when this took place. It was brought back to Govan Old in 1928. The cross is decorated with different variants of median-incised interlace, though its most notable feature is an eroded man on horseback that has lost much of its detail apart from the eyes of both horse and man. The ‘Inverted’ or ‘Upside Down’ cross is so named because it
2068-424: Was demolished in 1973, with the damaged early medieval stones being mistaken for debris. Nevertheless, one of these 'lost' stones was rediscovered in 2019 by a fourteen-year-old schoolboy, Mark McGettigan, working as part of the ‘Stones 'n' Bones’ community archaeology and heritage programme. Two more recumbent gravestones were uncovered subsequently, prompting hopes that more of the stones – possibly as many as
2115-628: Was established for the successor realm, known as the Kingdom of Strathclyde ('the valley of the Clyde'). Govan, already an ancient Christian site with burials dating back to AD 450-600, became an important ecclesiastical centre for this new kingdom. The presence of the five 'hogback' stones in Govan suggests the area was settled, or at least partly settled, by Vikings or Scandinavian-influenced peoples. These large sandstone blocks, seemingly designed to resemble Scandinavian longhouses, were found exclusively in areas of northern Britain where Vikings settled. Nowhere else are there hogback stones quite as large as
2162-406: Was supported by royal patronage. Because the site has been in continual use since it was first established, it is difficult to tell what the original church looked like, but excavations in the 1990s revealed the foundations of a wall next to the south-east corner of the present building. Based on depth and method of construction, it is thought that these foundations, which consist of boulders placed in
2209-467: Was too small to have supported a (stone) cross-head and could indicate that the Sun Stone played an architectural function. The Cuddy Stane takes its name from its rider's steed, which appears more like a donkey ('cuddy' in Scots language ) than a horse. The stone has been damaged since it was illustrated in 1856, which records the rider's upper half, with probable sword and pony tail (the latter also seen on
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