CARVINGS made almost 800 years ago into a church wall are at risk of being eroded due to the effects of wind and rain.
A group based in Luing, one of the Slate Islands in the Firth of Lorn in west Argyll, are concerned that the carvings will be lost before they can be properly studied.
The marks appear on the wall at Kilchattan Old Parish Church and appear to be of Viking longboats.
Longboats look to be depicted around an elaborate cross and two other boats have animal heads.
The church is estimated to have been built at the end of the 12th century, and is dedicated to Saint Cattan, a 6th century Irish monk.
One theory is that the boats depicted belonged to Scottish King Alexander II on his way to negotiate with Ewen MacDougall, Lord of Argyll and King of the Isles, on overlordship of the islands in 1249.
Another claims they are part of the fleet of King Haakon of Norway on their way to the 1263 Battle of Largs.
The carvings are low on the wall, giving fuel to the theory that they may have been left by children.
Mary Braithwaite from the Luing History Group told the BBC that the carvings are unique and should be studied before they are damaged any more.
She said: "There is one stone with a whole fleet of longboats. It's quite dramatic.
"They have been associated with the Scots king Alexander II, in 1249. My own theory is that at least some of them are Norse and more associated with Norwegian expeditions."
Braithwaite added: "We would really like much more thorough research to be done on them.
"They are not preserved at all. They are completely in the open air. They have survived some damage through wind and rain. They are deserving of a lot more attention."
The graveyard at the ruined church of Kilchattan documents the lives of past islanders, with quarriers, sailors and crofters side by side.
Luing can be found south of Oban and is approximately six miles long by one-and-a-half wide and has a population of under 200 people.
