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Strabane Stone Circles is a prehistoric megalithic complex comprising two stone circles, a cairn containing a stone burial chamber (cist), and two linear stone alignments. The monument lies in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, positioned on bedrock of the Argyll Group, Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks composed of psammite, semipelite and pelite. This ancient geological foundation provided the raw stone material that Neolithic or Bronze Age builders worked to construct the ceremonial and funerary structures visible today.
The two circles and associated cairn reflect the ritual and burial practices of prehistoric communities in Ulster, whilst the stone alignments suggest astronomical or processional significance characteristic of megalithic monument complexes. Such arrangements typically served communal functions, marking sacred space or aligning with celestial events.
The site is scheduled under historic monument reference 13898 and protected by the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities, ensuring its preservation as an archaeological asset of regional importance. The monument remains a significant testament to the architectural ambitions and social organisation of prehistoric Irish communities.
Two stone circles, cairn with cist & two alignments is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 13898. View the official record →
Strabane Stone Circles is a prehistoric megalithic complex comprising two stone circles, a cairn containing a stone burial chamber (cist), and two linear stone alignments. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 13898.
Two stone circles, cairn with cist & two alignments dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a megalithic complex. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Two stone circles, cairn with cist & two alignments 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 13898.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rath (0.6 km), Dermot & grainnes' bed, dermot & granias' bed. portal tomb (2.8 km), Dermot & grainne's bed, dermot & grania's bed. megalithic tomb, possibly wedge tomb (2.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Two stone circles, cairn with cist & two alignments'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.
Two stone circles, cairn with cist & two alignments stands on Argyll Group, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is psammite, semipelite and pelite.