Type Standing stone Height 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) Reference no. 296 | Elevation 47 m (154 ft) Built 2000 BC or later | |
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Location Lankill, Aughagower,
County Mayo, Ireland | ||
Lankill Standing Stone is a standing stone and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.
Contents
Location
Lankill Standing Stone stands in a field 2.7 km (1.7 mi) west-southwest of Aughagower, south of Knappaghbeg Lough. Toberbrendan, an early monastic site, is immediately to the southwest.
History
The stone possibly dates to the Bronze Age period but was Christianised centuries later with a cross carved on it.
The purpose of standing stones is unclear; they may have served as boundary markers, ritual or ceremonial sites, burial sites or astrological alignments.
Description
The stone is a spike of shale 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) tall. On the west face is a cross with a V-shaped ornament beneath it, and on the east face is a Latin cross in a double circle and four concentric circles; this probably indicates a "pagan" monument that was later appropriated by Christians.