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The Long Stone is a prehistoric standing stone located in Newry and Mourne, Northern Ireland. It stands on bedrock formed from a Palaeogene igneous intrusion of felsic composition, typical of the igneous activity that affected the region millions of years after the stone's erection. The monument has been protected by the Historic Environment Division under reference 6014, recognising its archaeological significance as a surviving example of early prehistoric ritual or territorial markers erected across the British Isles during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods.
Standing stones like The Long Stone served diverse purposes in prehistoric communities, functioning as burial markers, meeting points, or ceremonial foci within the landscape. Their isolated positions often suggest deliberate placement within territories or along routes of seasonal movement and trade. The monument's survival in Newry and Mourne reflects the enduring presence of prehistoric settlement in this region of County Down.
The stone's preservation to the present day makes it an invaluable record of prehistoric construction techniques and community values, despite the absence of associated finds or excavation records. It remains an integral part of the local landscape, offering insight into how prehistoric peoples marked and claimed their environment in this corner of northern Ireland.
The long stone. standing stone is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 6014. View the official record →
The Long Stone is a prehistoric standing stone located in Newry and Mourne, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 6014.
The long stone. 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.
The long stone. 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 6014.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Forkill mountain. large enclosure & cairn on forkill mountain (8 km), Carrickinaffrin. hilltop enclosure (8.2 km), Rath (8.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of The long stone. 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.
The long stone. standing stone stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is felsic-rock.