Medieval History
Reports indicate that a mysterious carved stone has been uncovered alongside a 12th-century church associated with the Knights Templar in Scotland.
According to a report in the Scotsman, what appears to be the carved top of a sarcophagus, was unearthed when builders were excavating and reinforcing a wall alongside the old ruined church in Temple, Midlothian.
“I was on a mission to repair the wall – which was falling into the graveyard. We got near the bottom of the foundations and found something buried there,†said Crispin Phillips, who is renovating a house alongside The Old Parish Church.
“We found one stone carved with a cross and then another with these carvings on it,†he said.
“We spent about half an hour in philosophical discussions about what we should do about it. I felt we should do something, rather than just bury it again,†he added.
The inscriptions, which include symbols similar to those found in Viking monuments, in medieval graves and in West Highland Celtic carvings, have baffled archaeologists.
Phillips contacted Historic Scotland and East Lothian Council, whose archaeologists cover Midlothian. He said that the stone had been photographed and recorded, but he was still unclear whether further investigations would be carried out.
“One of the archaeologists who came out told us it was probably from the early 12th century. But really, I’m still in limbo about what to do about it,†said Phillips.
Historian and author John Ritchie said the stone raised many questions.
“It is a crude carving, quite primitive, but I have never seen anything like it in my life. It has a whole series of symbols on it and the symbols are very interesting,†he said.
“The symbols at the bottom look like Viking sun compasses, while the dials at the top look a little bit like a Celtic cross but with notches carved on them,†he added.
According to David Connolly of Connolly Heritage Consultancy, the stone was from the 13th or 14th century.
“It is a significant site because it was the Templar Preceptory for Scotland. I think from the condition, it may once have been set inside the church – which was once much bigger,†he said.
Phillips said that he planned to complete the rebuilding of the 17th-century graveyard wall and would build an arch into it so interested scholars could still see the half-buried carvings.
The village of Temple in Midlothian takes its name from the Knights Templar, who once had their Scottish Preceptory – their headquarters – there.
The ruined chapel, which nestles in the valley at the foot of the village, is all that remains of what was once an abbey founded by the Templars on lands gifted by David I of Scotland in 1127.
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Medieval History
Mysterious carved stone could be Templar relic
Reports indicate that a mysterious carved stone has been uncovered alongside a 12th-century church associated with the Knights Templar in Scotland.
According to a report in the Scotsman, what appears to be the carved top of a sarcophagus, was unearthed when builders were excavating and reinforcing a wall alongside the old ruined church in Temple, Midlothian.
“I was on a mission to repair the wall – which was falling into the graveyard. We got near the bottom of the foundations and found something buried there,†said Crispin Phillips, who is renovating a house alongside The Old Parish Church.
“We found one stone carved with a cross and then another with these carvings on it,†he said.
“We spent about half an hour in philosophical discussions about what we should do about it. I felt we should do something, rather than just bury it again,†he added.
The inscriptions, which include symbols similar to those found in Viking monuments, in medieval graves and in West Highland Celtic carvings, have baffled archaeologists.
Phillips contacted Historic Scotland and East Lothian Council, whose archaeologists cover Midlothian. He said that the stone had been photographed and recorded, but he was still unclear whether further investigations would be carried out.
“One of the archaeologists who came out told us it was probably from the early 12th century. But really, I’m still in limbo about what to do about it,†said Phillips.
Historian and author John Ritchie said the stone raised many questions.
“It is a crude carving, quite primitive, but I have never seen anything like it in my life. It has a whole series of symbols on it and the symbols are very interesting,†he said.
“The symbols at the bottom look like Viking sun compasses, while the dials at the top look a little bit like a Celtic cross but with notches carved on them,†he added.
According to David Connolly of Connolly Heritage Consultancy, the stone was from the 13th or 14th century.
“It is a significant site because it was the Templar Preceptory for Scotland. I think from the condition, it may once have been set inside the church – which was once much bigger,†he said.
Phillips said that he planned to complete the rebuilding of the 17th-century graveyard wall and would build an arch into it so interested scholars could still see the half-buried carvings.
The village of Temple in Midlothian takes its name from the Knights Templar, who once had their Scottish Preceptory – their headquarters – there.
The ruined chapel, which nestles in the valley at the foot of the village, is all that remains of what was once an abbey founded by the Templars on lands gifted by David I of Scotland in 1127.
- Medieval 'cursing Stone' Discovered On Scottish Island
An ancient stone thought to have been used for Christian prayers or curses has been uncovered on a Scottish island. A farm manager chanced upon Scotland's first known example of a bullaun stone on the Isle of Canna, in the Inner Hebrides. Dating from...
- Funds Secured For Easter Ross's Pictish Nigg Cross-slab
A small voluntary group has secured enough money to conserve and redesign the displaying of an intricately carved Pictish stone in Easter Ross. The Nigg cross-slab dates from the 8th Century AD and features snakes and a depiction of monks receiving bread...
- Complex Operation To Put Cross On Wiltshire Cathedral
A new stone cross was lowered into its permanent position in one of Britain's finest medieval cathedrals yesterday. The cross, which was carved from a single block of stone and took 220 hours to complete, was placed in Salisbury Cathedral at the apex...
- Dozens Of Medieval Finds Reported In Scotland?s Treasure Trove
The government of Scotland has issued its annual Treasure Trove Report today, which lists the archaeological discoveries made between April 2009 and March 2010. The report notes the finds of dozens of items dating back to the Middle Ages and earlier....
- The Week's Medieval News
Tennessee historian wins MacArthur genius grant MYSTERY BIDDER BUYS CHURCH FOR £500K Medieval screen restored Medieval castle unearthed in Maenclochog Viking longhouse project is right on track Dig unearths part of city's Viking times Tara Protected...