1975:045 - DUNGIVEN, Derry

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Derry Site name: DUNGIVEN

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number:

Author: A. D. Bratt, Historic Monuments & Buildings Branch, Department of Environment (NI)

Site type: Standing Stone

Period/Dating: Undetermined

ITM: E 669337m, N 908489m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.919311, -6.918462

The stone stands on a low mound, 15m in diameter, the W side of which was threatened by the A.6/Dungiven by-pass scheme. A trench dug radially on the NW revealed severe disturbances. This had been caused partly by burrowing animals, partly by Sampson’s excavations in the early 19th century.

The stone had been erected on the summit of a natural hummock. It seems to have been enclosed by a circular palisade or fence. Subsequently, the hummock was built up with soil and turf to form a platform, 6.8m in diameter, around the stone. The extensive disturbance found, together with the limited area opened, made a more coherent interpretation impossible. All the small finds recovered came from the disturbed layers.