Meigle Parish Church, Churchyard
Burial Ground (Early Medieval) - (Modern), Gravestone(S) (Early Medieval), Long Cist(S) (Early Medieval)
Site Name Meigle Parish Church, Churchyard
Classification Burial Ground (Early Medieval) - (Modern), Gravestone(S) (Early Medieval), Long Cist(S) (Early Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Meigle Churchyard/meigle Kirkyard
Canmore ID 30879
Site Number NO24SE 33.01
NGR NO 28704 44600
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/30879
- Council Perth And Kinross
- Parish Meigle
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Perth And Kinross
- Former County Perthshire
NO 287 446 A sculptured stone was found on 29 September 1989, lying with its carved face downwards, on the bank inside the west gate of Meigle kirkyard. It is carved with a symmetrical pattern of four leaf-shaped elements forming a cross, with which a circle is interlaced. The design is neatly executed in relief within a sunken panel. It is reasonably well-preserved, but part has been broken off: all the sides of the slab have been damaged or cut down. Its present maximum length and breadth are 70cm by 44cm. The other face of the stone is smooth and uncarved, except where a rectangular socket has been sunk in one side of it.
N Robertson 1989.
NO24SE 33.1 28704 44600
For Pictish symbol stones, cross-slabs, sculptured stones and objects of similar type found in the old parish church and the adjacent area (and now housed in Meigle Museum), see NO24SE 25.00 and related sub-numbers.
NMRS REFERENCE:
Architect: John Carver 1869 (rebuilt).
Field Visit (19 April 1989)
An important collection of Early Christian sculptured stones was recovered from the fabric of the church and within the burial-ground, and others were found in re-use nearby (NO24SE 25). A number of these stones eviently once stood on the N side of the burial-ground, and, together with a mound which still survives, were believed (according to a tradition at least as old as the third quarter of the 16th century) to be the remains of a grave and monument of Guinevere (or Vanora). In 1805, in the course of road construction on the N side of the burial-ground (at this date unenclosed) and close to two sculptured stones (NO24SE 25.01 and .02) which stood to either side of the gate, the remains of 'at least two rude stone coffins, containing bones' were found. In 1855, excavations (by Jervise) at the foot of stone NO24SE 25.01 (to the W of the gate) revealed 'pieces of rude flag stones, with decayed bones underneath', and, at a depth of 0.3m below these, 'two or three other slabs... and a still greater quantity of human remains'; about 0.3m to the W (in an area apparently already disturbed) 'fragments of bones and old stone slabs' were found, and, at a depth of 0.76m, and probably pre-dating the erection of the sculptured stone at this spot, an east-west orientated extended inhumation. 'In this case... the head and foot were respectively guarded by two small flag stones, which were placed in an angular position' (possibly grave-markers). Within the burial-ground there are a number of 17th- and 18th-century gravestones.
Visited by RCAHMS (IMS) 19 April 1989.
A Jervise 1857.
Watching Brief (30 September 1997)
A watching brief was carried out on 30th September 1997 by Kirkdale Archaeology while two test pits were excavated in the vicinity of Meigle Museum. The exercise was intended to establish the nature and extent of archaeological deposits in the area at the S of the graveyard, where it meets the N wall of the museum, in advance of the erection of an extension to the building.
No archaeological features likely to be disturbed by the extension works were revealed, as the site was seen to be characterised by substantial depths of levelling and otherwise later materials.
A full graphic and photographic record was made, and no finds were removed from the site.
Kirkdale Archaeology, 1997
Geophysical Survey (4 May 2011 - 8 June 2011)
NO 2870 4460 A series of 23 electrical resistance tomography profiles arranged in a rough grid was measured across Meigle churchyard. The work was undertaken 4 May–8 June 2011 and analysis of the data is ongoing, but no really significant sub-surface features appear to have been delineated.
Archive: Perth and Kinross SMR and RCAHMS (intended)
Funder: Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust
Blairgowrie Geoscience, 2011
Watching Brief (30 January 2012)
Alder Archaeology was commissioned by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust to undertake an archaeological watching brief (site code ME03) on groundworks for a new disabled access path from Meigle parish church (centred on OS GR NO 287 445), through the graveyard to the museum south of the church. Meigle parish churchyard has been a burial ground since Pictish times and sculptured stones have been recovered from the burial ground and from the fabric of an earlier church which was destroyed by fire in 1869. Groundwork for the new route required the excavation of a shallow track 0.15m deep and 1.20m wide. The watching brief was undertaken 30 January 2012 and no significant archaeological remains were found. The foundation remains of the former graveyard wall were uncovered where it had been demolished in the 19th C to create an opening. A large deposit of disarticulated human bone was found close to the surface in the graveyard, which was then reburied at a deeper level. It was established that the bones had been collected and reburied close to the surface when a field drain had been inserted through the graveyard in the 19th C. Some structural remains (brick and stone) from disturbed 19th C grave markers and a small amount of 19th-20th-C pottery and glass was recovered. No further archaeological work will be required for the new access route.
Information from Oasis (alderarc1-119543) 14 March 2012
