In the churchyard of Govan Old in Glasgow, archaeologists discovered not a finished ornament but an unfinished ring made of slate — a 'roughout', as such blanks are called. This find points to the existence of a jewellery workshop right on the territory of one of Scotland's oldest Christian centres.
The excavation is being conducted by the Govan Heritage Trust under the leadership of Professor Stephen Driscoll, with the participation of volunteers and students. The plot in the south-eastern part of the cemetery is being re-investigated after the work of 1996, when fragments of an ancient road were found here.
The slate ring complements a series of similar finds from the 1990s. Together they show that local residents preferred a dark stone resembling rare and expensive jet. Slate probably served as an affordable substitute for the elite.
Govan Old is known as a Christian centre from approximately 500 AD. Radiocarbon analysis of the burials beneath the church foundation dates them to between 435 and 601.
In the early Middle Ages, Govan was part of the kingdom of Strathclyde, or the kingdom of the Clyde Britons. After the Viking capture of Dumbarton Rock in 870, the royal residence apparently moved to the area of Partick opposite Govan.
The discovery of the workshop fits the broader picture: major ecclesiastical and royal centres of early medieval Europe often had craft production attached to them. Here, prestigious objects were made for the nobility and the clergy.
The project "Dig Where You Stand" began in 2023 precisely to study monuments associated with the Govan Stones — a collection of carved stones from the ninth to eleventh centuries. In the same year, the famous "Govan Warrior" was found.
The excavations continue until 20 September 2026. These days, a Viking Age festival will be held at the Govan Stones museum, where visitors can see the finds and try ancient crafts.
An unfinished ring speaks of the everyday work of craftsmen more than any finished masterpiece: here they forged not only faith, but also status and fashion.
