Govan Old Parish Church in Scotland is home to five extraordinary Viking hogback stones. The stones were discovered in the cemetery of the church, dating back to the mediaeval Kingdom of Strathclyde between the 9th and 11th centuries. Some were likely recumbent stones to mark graves. Others were likely "signposts" of the day, marking important places.
This style of stones was created by Vikings when they raided and settled across England, Scotland and Ireland. They were likely to mark the graves of important people. They don't even exist in Scandinavia - they are the product of the Vikings embracing Christianity and using Christian burial yards, but putting their own spin on their grave stones. It seems the most widely accepted theories are that they either represent the tiled roofs of Viking longhouses, or upside down boats - Vikings were known to bring their boats inland and tip them over to serve as shelter. Creatures of various sorts are usually holding the ends of the stones. The Govan hogbacks are the biggest in existence. The carvings on them definitely have Pictish influence
It is astounding that these stones still exist - Govan was completely enveloped in the industrial ship building boom in the 1800s and there is no telling what other treasures lay under the subsequent developments.
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