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Tamney cromlech is a prehistoric stone circle located near Coleraine in County Londonderry. The monument stands on bedrock composed of Palaeogene extrusive rocks, principally mafic lava and tuff formations dating to around 60 million years ago. This volcanic geology creates a distinctive landscape characteristic of the north-east of Ireland, where such ancient igneous substrates are common.
The cromlech comprises a circle of stones arranged in the typical megalithic tradition of the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. Stone circles of this type were constructed across the British Isles as ceremonial and ritual centres, often serving functions connected to burial practices, astronomical observation or communal gatherings. The precise date of Tamney's construction remains undetermined, though stylistically it belongs within the broader cultural tradition spanning roughly 3500 to 1500 BCE.
The monument is recorded under Historic Environment Division reference 12332 and benefits from legal protection as a scheduled monument. This recognition reflects the archaeological and cultural significance of the site, preserving it as evidence of prehistoric settlement and ceremonial practice in the Coleraine area.
Tamney cromlech. stone circle or cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 12332. View the official record →
Tamney cromlech is a prehistoric stone circle located near Coleraine in County Londonderry. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 12332.
Tamney cromlech. stone circle or cairn dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a stone circle. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Tamney cromlech. stone circle or cairn 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 12332.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Counterscarp rath (0.9 km), Dwarf's grave, slaght averty. cairn (1.5 km), Rath (2.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Tamney cromlech. stone circle or cairn'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.
Tamney cromlech. stone circle or cairn stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.