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Larne Standing Stone is a prehistoric standing stone located in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The monument stands on bedrock composed of Palaeogene extrusive rocks, part of the ancient mafic lava and tuff formations that underlie much of this region. These volcanic deposits, formed over 56 million years ago, have weathered to create the distinctive landscape of the Larne area. The standing stone itself represents a significant marker from the prehistoric period, when such monuments were raised for purposes now largely unknowable, though often associated with territorial, ceremonial or burial practices.
Standing stones of this type were erected across prehistoric Ireland and Britain, typically during the Bronze Age or earlier. Their survival depends heavily upon local geology and land use. The Palaeogene bedrock at Larne, though volcanic in origin, has proven stable enough to support the monument's preservation. The stone's exact dimensions, material composition and date of erection remain subjects for archaeological study.
The standing stone is protected as a scheduled monument under the Historic Environment Division of the Northern Ireland Department for Communities, registered under reference 2424. This designation acknowledges its significance as a tangible link to prehistoric settlement and belief systems in the Larne locality and reflects the enduring archaeological and cultural importance of the monument.
Standing stone is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 2424. View the official record →
Larne Standing Stone is a prehistoric standing stone located in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 2424.
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 2424.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Mounds (2) and neolithic & bronze age pottery and flint scatters (5.2 km), Findspot of flint and pottery (5.5 km), Mound & chamber (6 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 Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.