Early medieval stone carvings, dating back approximately 1000 years and located in southern Scotland, are being preserved through a new documentation project that promises to shed light on the emergence of regional kingdoms and their cultural interactions. The 'Sculpting Southern Scotland' project aims to illuminate one of Scotland's least understood historical periods by recording around 200 stone sculpture fragments in 3D, many of which are at risk of disappearing due to church closures or sales.
Silent Witnesses at the Crossroads of Cultures
These stones bear witness to a turbulent era marked by struggles for territory among the Gaels, Britons, and Picts, Viking raids, and the nascent Kingdom of Alba. Whether attached to places of worship or standing freely in open landscapes, these monuments hold unique insights into the period between approximately 500 and 1100 AD, a time for which written records are exceptionally scarce. However, the closure or sale of many historic churches today places the future of the unprotected stone carvings found within or near these structures in jeopardy.
Heritage Rescued by Technology
The project, coordinated by archaeologist Dr. Christina Cowart-Smith, will be expanded to encompass the Lothians, Borders, Ayrshire, and Dumfries and Galloway regions. With the support of private funding, researchers will create both two- and three-dimensional models of these stones, meticulously recording the intricate details of their designs. Dr. Cowart-Smith emphasizes that these sculptures are an invaluable resource for understanding how communities constructed their identities, expressed political allegiances, and organised their beliefs in the early medieval period.
A New Perspective on Scotland's Rich Past
In recent years, Scotland has been the site of numerous discoveries that have captivated the archaeological world. For instance, the revelation that a Neolithic artificial island at Loch Bhorgastail on the Isle of Lewis was constructed entirely on a wooden platform [1], and the uncovering of a new ancient stone circle at Machrie Moor on the Isle of Arran [2], are challenging established understandings of the country's prehistoric past. Furthermore, organic finds preserved for millennia in Scotland's peat bogs offer further windows into the past [3]. However, these early medieval stones in the south hold particular significance for illuminating a dark period with minimal written documentation.
With fieldwork set to commence in the autumn, hundreds of sculpture fragments, some unexamined for over a century, will be re-analysed using modern technology. This will enable the story of cultural transitions and the birth of kingdoms along Scotland's borders to be read with unprecedented clarity.
Sources and Further Reading
- [1] Archaeologists reveal wooden secret beneath ancient stone island
- [2] 51K views · 950 reactions | Exciting new discovery alert! 🚨 Buried beneath the ground, our archaeologists have discovered a new ancient circle at Machrie Moor in the Isle of Arran. Thousands of years on, we're still unearthing secrets about the lives of the Neolithic and Bronze age farmers that lived on this intriguing and windswept moor. What do you think life was like for the farmers who once lived here? 📷 Footage and photos ©️ Lee Howard & HES | Historic Scotland
- [3] Top 10 Archaeological Finds from Scotland’s Peat Bogs - Dig It!