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Carrickfergus Standing Stone is a prehistoric standing stone located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The monument stands upon bedrock formed from Palaeogene extrusive rocks, specifically mafic lava and mafic tuff dating to the Paleogene period. This volcanic geology is characteristic of the north-eastern Irish landscape, shaped by intense magmatic activity millions of years before the stone was erected.
The standing stone represents a tradition of monumental construction that flourished across Ireland during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. Such stones served multiple functions within prehistoric communities, marking territorial boundaries, serving as waymarkers, or commemorating significant individuals or events. The survival of this monument into the modern era demonstrates its robust construction and the cultural importance afforded to it by successive generations.
The stone is protected as a scheduled monument by the Historic Environment Division under reference 4676, recognising its archaeological significance and antiquity. The monument's position within Belfast's landscape contributes to understanding the prehistoric settlement patterns and ritual practices of Ireland's earliest farming communities. Its preservation ensures continued opportunity for study and public engagement with the region's archaeological heritage.
Standing stone is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 4676. View the official record →
Carrickfergus Standing Stone is a prehistoric standing stone located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 4676.
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 4676.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cranmore house. 17th century house (6.5 km), Dunmurry mound, mary mount. motte (7 km), Dunmurry fort. rath (7.1 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.