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Ballynoe Standing Stone is a prehistoric standing stone located in County Down, Northern Ireland, possibly forming part of the broader Ballynoe stone circle complex. The monument stands upon bedrock of the Hawick Group, a Wenlock-age wacke formation that characterises much of the underlying geology across this region. Its position as a potential outlier to the main circle suggests a purposeful spatial relationship within what may have been a more extensive ceremonial or astronomical arrangement.
Standing stones of this type proliferated across the British Isles during the Bronze Age and late Neolithic periods, serving functions that remain partially understood. They frequently marked territorial boundaries, functioned within ritual landscapes, or oriented towards significant celestial events. The Ballynoe complex as a whole represents a concentration of such monumental activity, suggesting this locality held considerable significance for its prehistoric communities.
The stone is protected as a scheduled monument by the Historic Environment Division under reference 8108, reflecting its importance to Northern Ireland's archaeological heritage. The wacke bedrock underlying the site would have been locally available to its builders, though the stone itself may have been selected and transported for its specific size and properties. The monument remains a notable example of prehistoric stone-working in the drumlin landscape of County Down.
Standing stone - possible outlier of ballynoe stone circle complex is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 8108. View the official record →
Ballynoe Standing Stone is a prehistoric standing stone located in County Down, Northern Ireland, possibly forming part of the broader Ballynoe stone circle complex. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 8108.
Standing stone - possible outlier of ballynoe stone circle complex 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 - possible outlier of ballynoe stone circle complex 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 8108.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Windmill stump (c.f. ihr 3454 for details) (1.8 km), A.p. site - barrow? (2.9 km), Rathmullan motte, rathmullan mound, rathmullan. raised rath reused as motte (3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Standing stone - possible outlier of ballynoe stone circle complex'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 - possible outlier of ballynoe stone circle complex stands on Hawick Group, bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is wacke.