Standing Stones — Gaddyduff

A standing stone 1.35m high × 1.07m wide at base; N-S. The 2nd and 3rd editions of the OS 6-inch map note two stones here but the second stone was 'broken up for gravel' (M.R. Colhoun). Pre-development testing was carried out by Dominic Delany of Dominic Delany & Associates under licence No. 06E0660 on the site of a proposed housing development at Gaddyduff, Co. Donegal, on 26 July 2006. The development site is located in the vicinity of DG010–015001-, the site of two standing stones. One of the stones is extant in the school grounds across the road from the development site. The second (DG010-015002-) is recorded as having being broken for gravel and its site is unknown. Testing comprised the excavation of five trenches on the development footprint. The topsoil had an average thickness of 0.5m and overlay yellow/orange fine sandy subsoil. Part of a circular pit feature (diameter c. 1m) was exposed at the entrance to the development site some 13m north of the roadside pavement. A section cutting revealed an upper fill of mid-brown silty clay, with occasional charcoal over red/brown silty clay with frequent charcoal inclusions. The break of slope at the top of the pit was sharp, becoming more gradual towards the base. The pit was 0.42m deep and one large sub-angular stone was located near the base. The primary fill of oxidised clay suggests the feature may be a funerary pit, although no burnt bone was recovered. It is also possible that this feature is the socket of the destroyed standing stone. Archaeological excavation of the pit feature was recommended (Bennett 2009, 582). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 15 November 2011