Lankill Standing Stone
Lankill Standing Stone is a standing stone and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.[1]
| Lankill Standing Stone | |
|---|---|
| Native name Irish: Gallán Lainn Chille | |
  Location of Lankill Standing Stone in Ireland | |
| Type | Standing stone |
| Location | Lankill, Aughagower, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53.753238°N 9.501742°W |
| Elevation | 47 m (154 ft) |
| Height | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Built | 2000 BC or later |
| Official name | Lankill Standing Stone |
| Reference no. | 296 |
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.[2]
History
The stone possibly dates to the Bronze Age period but was Christianised centuries later with a cross carved on it.[3]
The purpose of standing stones is unclear; they may have served as boundary markers, ritual or ceremonial sites, burial sites or astrological alignments.[4]
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.[5][6]
References
- "National Monuments in State Care : Ownership & Guardianship : Mayo" (PDF). Archaeology.ie. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- Harbison, Peter (1 April 1995). Pilgrimage in Ireland: The Monuments and the People. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 9780815603122 – via Google Books.
- "Heritage - Croagh Patrick Knock Heritage trail". Croaghpatrickknockheritagetrail.ie.
- Ryan, Áine. "CULTURE Legacy of Lankill". The Mayo News.
- "LANKILL CROSS PILLAR/MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS OF IRELAND". Megalithixcmonumentsofireland.com. 2011.
- "Some Spared Stones of Ireland". Irishmegaliths.org.