An exciting archaeological project is taking place in and around Glasgow, helping reveal the secrets of an ancient Kingdom forgotten by time. Just like something out of an Indiana Jones movie, archaeologists are on the hunt for the long-lost graves of the Kings of Strathclyde.
The 1,500-year-old Kingdom of Strathclyde stretched between Loch Lomond and Penrith in Cumbria during its heyday between the 9th and 11th centuries. Dumbarton Rock was the Kingdom’s first capital before the Vikings overtook it in AD870, being forced to move to our very own Govan after.
Eventually, the Kingdom of Strathclyde was taken over by the Kingdom of Alba, now the Kingdom of Scotland, dissolving into a mere memory.
So far, archaeologists have discovered the Govan Stones, dating back 1,200 years, at Govan Old Parish Church, with the site itself dating back to early Christian times. As a result, it is fair to believe the burial grounds around it could potentially hold the graves of the ancient Kings themselves, as the graveyard has remained untouched despite Glasgow’s urban expansion.
What is more, Govan Heritage Trust is seeking volunteers who would be willing to help with the careful excavation of the grounds.
Professor Stephen Driscoll, a specialist in early medieval history at the University of Glasgow leading the project, told The National: “What we’re doing is systematically working across the graveyard and probing and identifying buried stones. We will be lifting the grass off and then drawing, photographing and recording [what] we find.”
“The thing that makes it really stand out is that it has survived intact. The churchyard seems to be an early Christian layout, and the boundary seems to still be here.”
“We need to build up a body of people to help sustain the building in the future. We need people who are interested, knowledgeable and engaged, and archaeology is an easy way to get people involved.”