The King's Stones, Glasgow's Celtic & Viking Past

Govan is a slightly down at the heels, working class Glasgow neighborhood, but once it was the seat of power for the kings of Strathclyde. The southside community hugging the river was the region’s most important Christian stronghold in the 6^th century. As Viking conquerors ousted the Celts, they established their own holy sites and they left behind remarkable vestiges of their culture. The Govan Old Church was built in 1888 over the Vikings’ church and burial site. Archeological digs unearthed 31 intricately carved monuments from the 9–11^th centuries, including a massive sarcophagus and “hogback” stones. The Govan Stones are displayed throughout the church, which has a small but loyal congregation that acts as the guardians of this ancient treasure. Every afternoon, people like us can just wander in and see the stones, which you’d expect to find in a place like the British Museum rather than a neighborhood church steps away from a struggling commercial district.