Megalithic structure in Liafin

Described by Ciara McManus as 'Concealed almost entirely by a thick garden hedge 1m W of the roadside, two large stones stand next to each other both aligned with their long axis in an E-W direction. The stone to the N is the larger of the two, though approximately 0.1m less in height than its S partner (exact measurements are impossible due to the thickness of the hedge). It is a large lichen-covered block standing stone 1.2m in height and measures 1.1m long and about 0.4m in breadth. The full height of both stones is lessened on the E side by build-up on the verge of the road, though to the W, in the base of the hedge, their full height can be seen as the garden is about 0.4m lower. The S stone stands 1.3m high and is a fine slab, approximately 0.3m thick and 1m in length. It is leaning slightly from its original position and and now rests against the top of the other though originally, if upright, as measured at the base of the stones, it would have been no more than 0.2m from the other. On present evidence, the stones do not appear to be the remains of any larger monument, such as a megalithic tomb and can only be classfieid at this time as a pair of standing stones' (Unpublished excavation report no. 00E646). Excavation licence number 00E0646 A one-day site assessment was carried out in the area of a proposed house site at Liafin, Linsfort, Co. Donegal, in order to fulfil the requirements of an outline planning application to erect a dwelling and septic tank. The archaeological site that prompted this assessment, standing stone SMR 19:15, no longer appears to exist at its recorded location. However, two 'new' standing stones had been located in the field on the opposite side of the road to the development site during a previous site assessment. (Excavations Bulletin 2000) Ciara McManus, ADS, Unit 48, Westlink Enterprise Centre, 30-50 Distillery Street, Belfast.