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The cross-carved stone at Ballymoney is an uncertain cross-carved stone of early medieval date, located in County Antrim. The monument sits upon bedrock of Palaeogene extrusive rocks, mafic lavas and tuffs that form part of the ancient volcanic landscape of north-east Ireland. This geological setting reflects the dramatic geological history of the region, shaped by volcanic activity in the Palaeogene period.
Cross-carved stones are a characteristic feature of early Christian settlement and monastic activity in Ireland and Britain. Their precise function remains debated amongst scholars, though they may have served as territorial markers, burial markers, or focal points for Christian devotion and worship. The Ballymoney example contributes to the archaeological record of early Christian practices in the north-east of the island.
The stone is protected as a scheduled monument by the Historic Environment Division under reference 1422, recognising its significance to the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland. Its uncertain classification reflects the interpretative challenges posed by early medieval carved stones, where weathering, fragmentation and the absence of contextual finds can obscure original purpose and date. The monument remains an important witness to the early Christian landscape of County Antrim.
Cross-carved stone is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 1422. View the official record →
The cross-carved stone at Ballymoney is an uncertain cross-carved stone of early medieval date, located in County Antrim. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 1422.
Cross-carved stone dates from the uncertain period, and is classified as a cross-carved stone. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Cross-carved stone 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 1422.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Standing stone (3.4 km), Standing stone (3.7 km), Standing stone (3.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Cross-carved stone's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Cross-carved stone stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.