Sarcophagus (cast)

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This cast of a sandstone sarcophagus, or coffin, found in the churchyard at Govan in Glasgow, was made in 1990. Unusually, all four sides of the sarcophagus were preserved, with carvings on each face. Only the lid is missing.

This picture shows one of the long sides. It has been carved with alternating panels of interlace and scenes. The left scene shows two pairs of animals, the lower pair pictured upside down. The right scene has two beasts with their necks crossed.

A remarkable group of stone monuments has been preserved at Govan church. They include this sarcophagus, grave slabs, and five hog-backed tombstones. The last type of monument was characteristic in Scandinavian-settled areas of northern England.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-152-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IB 12
• Date: 1990
  Date of original: 10th or 11th century; date of cast: 1990
  
• Material: Stone, ornamented interlaced work, figures of beasts
  Coffin / cast
  
• Dimensions: 88" x 25" x 20"
  
• What: Coffin / cast
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Govan Churchyard
  
• Event:
• Description: Cast of a stone coffin, 1990, the original was found in the churchyard at Govan in Glasgow and dates from the 10th or 11th century
  
• References:
  • Allen, J. R. & Anderson, J. The early Christian monuments of Scotland. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 1903, vol. 2, pp 462-3. 
• Translations:
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