© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)
Standing Stone in Derry is a prehistoric monolith set within a landscape of Neoproterozoic bedrock comprising psammite, semipelite and pelite of the Argyll Group. These metamorphic rocks, formed over 600 million years ago, underlie the rolling terrain of County Derry and have weathered to produce the distinctive geology of the region. The stone itself represents a significant marker from the later prehistoric period, when communities across Ireland erected such monuments for purposes ranging from territorial demarcation to ritual or burial commemoration.
Standing stones occupy a prominent place in the prehistoric landscape of Northern Ireland, typically dating to the Bronze Age or earlier. Their precise original functions remain uncertain, though their conspicuous placement suggests they held considerable significance for the societies that raised them. This example, protected by the Historic Environment Division under reference 12200, survives as evidence of prehistoric activity and belief systems in the Derry area.
The monument's survival on this exposed landscape of ancient metamorphic rock testifies to the enduring character of both stone and place. Its preservation enables continued study of prehistoric settlement patterns and ritual practices across the north of Ireland, contributing to understanding of how early communities shaped and understood their environment across the millennia.
Standing stone is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 12200. View the official record →
Standing Stone in Derry is a prehistoric monolith set within a landscape of Neoproterozoic bedrock comprising psammite, semipelite and pelite of the Argyll Group. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 12200.
Standing stone 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.
Standing 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 12200.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rath (3.8 km), Cairn (1 of 4 in same field) (5.8 km), Cross (6.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Standing 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.
Standing stone stands on Argyll Group, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is psammite, semipelite and pelite.