Scheduled MonumentsNorthern IrelandDerryClagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb
PREHISTORIC · STANDING STONE

Clagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb

Derry, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 12543
Period
PREHISTORIC
Site type
STANDING STONE
Nation
Northern Ireland
The designation
Reference
NISMR MonID 12543
Authority
DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)
Grid reference
C5823805478
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)

Overview

History & significance

Clagan stone is a prehistoric standing stone monument comprising three stones, possibly the surviving remains of a megalithic tomb. Located in County Derry, Northern Ireland, the monument stands on bedrock of the Argyll Group, a sequence of metamorphic rocks formed during the Neoproterozoic period, consisting of psammite, semipelite and pelite. This ancient geology provided the raw material from which the standing stones were extracted and raised, anchoring the monument deep within the landscape's geological history.

The three upright stones suggest this was originally a more substantial structure, likely a chambered tomb or similar ritual monument characteristic of the Neolithic period. Such megalithic tombs served both practical and ceremonial purposes, functioning as communal burial places and focal points for early farming communities. The partial survival of Clagan stone preserves an important record of prehistoric monument-building practices in the north of Ireland.

The site is protected by the Historic Environment Division under reference 12543, securing its preservation for future study and public understanding. Standing stones and tomb remains such as this provide invaluable evidence of early settlement patterns, social organisation and ceremonial life in prehistoric Ulster. The monument contributes significantly to the archaeological heritage of the Derry landscape and the broader Neolithic record of Ireland.

Clagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 12543. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Clagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb?

Clagan stone is a prehistoric standing stone monument comprising three stones, possibly the surviving remains of a megalithic tomb. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 12543.

What period does Clagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb date from?

Clagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a standing stone. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Clagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb?

Clagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 12543.

What other scheduled monuments are near Clagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Standing stone (2 km), Rath (2.2 km), Rath (2.7 km).

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Clagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Clagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with every monument and battle plotted, and a plain-language history built only from what the record holds.
Monuments
The legally protected scheduled monuments around the location, each with its period, type and significance.
Battlefields
The battles and sieges fought on this ground, mapped and set on a timeline of the wider conflict.
Roman World
Ireland was never conquered by Rome, so this traces the island's Iron Age kingdoms and its contact with the Roman world.
Historic Records
The 19th-century records of this place: valuations, Ordnance Survey memoirs and topographical accounts.
Civil War
The Civil War fighting, garrisons and recorded militaria in this area, woven into the arc of 1642 to 1651.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back hundreds of millions of years.
Local Names
What the street and field names around here actually mean, and the history buried inside them.
Historical Maps
Ordnance Survey maps from the 1800s, layered over the location as it stands today.
Literature
The books, county histories, charters and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Legal
The protected sites nearby and the metal-detecting, access and treasure laws that apply to this ground.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Target Zones
For detectorists: the most promising ground to search nearby, ranked by confidence, with what to expect.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from prehistory to the present day.
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Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

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The ground beneath

The bedrock under Clagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb

Clagan stone. standing stones (3) possibly remains of megalithic tomb stands on Argyll Group, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is psammite, semipelite and pelite.