Scheduled MonumentsNorthern IrelandNewry And MourneTwo standing stones, possibly megalithic tomb
PREHISTORIC · STANDING STONEPossible

Two standing stones, possibly megalithic tomb

Newry And Mourne, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 8648
Period
PREHISTORIC
Site type
STANDING STONEPossible
Nation
Northern Ireland
The designation
Reference
NISMR MonID 8648
Authority
DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)
Grid reference
J1216731199
Boundary

Scheduled area

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

Overview

History & significance

Newry and Mourne Standing Stones is a prehistoric monument consisting of two standing stones, likely representing the surviving remains of a megalithic tomb. The site lies within the Newry and Mourne district of Northern Ireland and is protected as a scheduled ancient monument by the Historic Environment Division. The stones stand upon bedrock formed from an unnamed igneous intrusion of Late Silurian to Early Devonian age, composed of felsic rock created during the Early Devonian period. This geological foundation reflects the region's complex volcanic history.

Megalithic monuments of this type were typically constructed during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods as burial or ceremonial structures. The two stones that survive today suggest this site once formed part of a larger monument, with additional stones likely lost to agricultural activity, natural erosion or deliberate removal over millennia. The felsic igneous bedrock beneath the site would have presented considerable challenges for the monument's builders, requiring them to select and position these substantial stone markers with considerable effort.

The monument's survival into the modern era reflects its enduring presence in the landscape. Its protected status recognises its archaeological and historical significance, preserving evidence of prehistoric settlement and ritual practice within the Newry and Mourne area. The site contributes to our understanding of megalithic traditions across northern Ireland during prehistoric times.

Two standing stones, possibly megalithic tomb is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 8648. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Two standing stones, possibly megalithic tomb?

Newry and Mourne Standing Stones is a prehistoric monument consisting of two standing stones, likely representing the surviving remains of a megalithic tomb. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 8648.

What period does Two standing stones, possibly megalithic tomb date from?

Two standing stones, possibly megalithic tomb dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a standing stonepossible. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Two standing stones, possibly megalithic tomb?

Two standing stones, possibly 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 8648.

What other scheduled monuments are near Two standing stones, possibly megalithic tomb?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Souterrain & ?cashel (5.4 km), Carrigakill. court tomb (5.9 km), Court tomb (6.2 km).

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Two standing stones, possibly megalithic tomb

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Two standing stones, possibly 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.
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Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

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The ground beneath

The bedrock under Two standing stones, possibly megalithic tomb

Two standing stones, possibly megalithic tomb stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Late Silurian To Early Devonian, bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is felsic-rock.