Rob Roy's tombstone originated 1,000 years before his death

Archaeologists in Balquhidder, Scotland, discovered that the tombstone of outlaw Rob Roy was created nearly a millennium before his death in 1734.

The research team used 3D imaging to examine the elaborately carved stone slab at Balquhidder Parish Church. The analysis revealed that the original carvings date back to the early Christian period.

These early markings include a cross-like shape resembling a flabellum, which is a ceremonial fan used in Catholic liturgy, along with two smaller crosses made using a specific pocking and smoothing technique. Researchers believe the stone was originally intended for an important cleric in the early medieval church. Later, during the fifteenth or sixteenth century, people added new carvings to the slab, including a sword, tongs, and a scene depicting hunting or herding.

This history shows how the grave marker evolved over many centuries before it became the final resting place for the folk hero.