Scheduled MonumentsNorthern IrelandMagherafeltStanding stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb
PREHISTORIC · STANDING STONE

Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb

Magherafelt, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 12956
Period
PREHISTORIC
Site type
STANDING STONE
Nation
Northern Ireland
The designation
Reference
NISMR MonID 12956
Authority
DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)
Grid reference
H7549594819
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)

Overview

History & significance

Magherafelt Standing Stone is a prehistoric standing stone, possibly the surviving remnant of a megalithic tomb. The monument stands in the Magherafelt area of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, where bedrock of the Roe Valley Group underlies the site. This geological formation, dating to the Tournaisian period, comprises sandstone and conglomerate with subordinate argillaceous rocks, typical of the region's Carboniferous geology.

The stone's original context and full extent remain uncertain, as megalithic monuments of this type were subject to significant disturbance and damage over millennia. Whether it represents an isolated standing stone or the last upright component of a chambered cairn cannot be determined from its present condition. Similar monuments across the Irish landscape frequently lost structural elements through agricultural clearance and natural degradation.

The standing stone is protected by the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities under reference number 12956, ensuring its preservation as evidence of prehistoric settlement and ceremonial practice in the Magherafelt locality. The monument contributes to understanding the distribution of megalithic activity across the north of Ireland during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods.

Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 12956. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb?

Magherafelt Standing Stone is a prehistoric standing stone, possibly the surviving remnant of a megalithic tomb. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 12956.

What period does Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb date from?

Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb 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.

Who is responsible for protecting Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb?

Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb 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 12956.

What other scheduled monuments are near Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rath (1.1 km), Dergmore's grave. portal tomb (1.2 km), Counterscarp rath (2.2 km).

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with every monument and battle plotted, and a plain-language history built only from what the record holds.
Monuments
The legally protected scheduled monuments around the location, each with its period, type and significance.
Battlefields
The battles and sieges fought on this ground, mapped and set on a timeline of the wider conflict.
Roman World
Ireland was never conquered by Rome, so this traces the island's Iron Age kingdoms and its contact with the Roman world.
Historic Records
The 19th-century records of this place: valuations, Ordnance Survey memoirs and topographical accounts.
Civil War
The Civil War fighting, garrisons and recorded militaria in this area, woven into the arc of 1642 to 1651.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back hundreds of millions of years.
Local Names
What the street and field names around here actually mean, and the history buried inside them.
Historical Maps
Ordnance Survey maps from the 1800s, layered over the location as it stands today.
Literature
The books, county histories, charters and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Legal
The protected sites nearby and the metal-detecting, access and treasure laws that apply to this ground.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Target Zones
For detectorists: the most promising ground to search nearby, ranked by confidence, with what to expect.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from prehistory to the present day.
First month just £4.99, then £9.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb report
Or see a real report first
The ground beneath

The bedrock under Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb

Standing stone, possibly remains of megalithic tomb stands on Roe Valley Group, bedrock that formed in the Tournaisian. The rock here is sandstone, conglomerate and [subordinate] argillaceous rocks.