Have we just found the first sign of a monumental early medieval gateway guarding the grand Viking-Age processional way into Govan Old?
Seemingly constructed at the time the Govan Stones were being carved at the Christian heart of the the Strathclyde Britons' kingdom, this season's find of a massive posthole with impressively large, and extremely intriguing, packing stones 1 metre to the north of the roadway discovered as part of the 1996/7 Time Team episode is of enormous significance.
Listen to Govan Early Medieval's Annemarie Franz chat to Professor Steve Driscoll of University of Glasgow Archaeology to find out the latest on this amazing find and what it means for our understanding of Govan Old and Strathclyde in the years around AD 900.
The 2025 dig was a University of Glasgow Archaeology Field School that was held in conjunction with Clyde Archaeology.
The episode image is by Bex Simpson.
Join Alex and Tom as they talk about Strathclyde and the kingdoms of early medieval Britain! Alex Harvey is the early medievalist author of 'Forgotten Vikings: New Approaches to the Viking Age' and 'Riddles of the Isle: History of the Isle of Axholme from the Romans to the Normans'. His upcoming book, 'Little Kingdoms: An A-Z of Early Medieval Britain', will be released on the 30th of November, 2025.
Dr. Adrián Maldonado talks to Dr. Tom Horne about the fascinating parallels in early Christian art and cult practice between Iona and Govan Old. Don't miss a truly absorbing discussion about the carved stones of these enormously important Christian centres, and a particularly fascinating suggestion about what Govan's recumbent cross slabs grave markers might be telling us about the location of a saint's cult within the ancient churchyard!
Dr. Maldonado is Galloway Hoard Researcher at National Museums Scotland.