Stone Circles

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Stone circles and alignments on S slope Caugh Hill, Aughlish. Aughlish Stone Circle group consists of 5 circles or part circles and 2 alignments and an isolated stone or standing stone. The alignments, forming a straight line of stones running tangentially to 2 of the smaller circles with a further alignment of smaller stones running parallel and closely to the other lines. The larger circle of stones at the S end of the group is most impressive being an entire circle of standing stones, most quite small but 2 almost opposite each other, on the circumference, and approximately 1400mm high. There are a number of small stones dotted about within the circle and there are a series of small stones making an alignment to the E side. A little to the W is an isolated standing stone.

The stone circles and alignments are at the upper end of a sloping grazing field off the Rallagh Road.

Historical information

The stone circles and alignments are thought to date to the late Neolithic or early Bronze age c2000 BC,
A M No.SMR LDY 30.21

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1830 Londonderry sh. 30
2. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Londonderry X, 1833-34, 1838
Ed by Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams Q.U.B. p. 7
3. John McCloskey, Statistical Reports of Six Derry Parishes 1821 p.77

Secondary Sources
1. Banagher History Group, Historic Monuments and Sites of Banagher p. 18, 19
2. Mallory and McNeill, The Archaeology of Ulster, p. 71-74

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An excellent example of stone circle, part stone circles and stone alignments of c 2000 BC.