Standing stone — pair in An Bearnas Íochtarach

This site consists of two standing stones set 3m apart. Both faces of each stone bear petroglyphs. The S stone is 2.2m high × 2.4m wide × c. 0.75m thick; NW-SE approximately. S stone E face: heavily ornamented with at least 48 isolated cup-marks as well as more complex motifs. Kinahan noted a cup-and-three gapped circles on the lower part of the S end of this face. Spalling has removed one half of this motif; the remainder survives as a cup-mark surrounded by a shallow recessed band and 2 concentric circles. This motif also includes 2 satellite cup-marks and a satellite cup-and-circle. The discrepancy between Kinahan's drawing of this motif and the present one may be, as in other instances, due to erosion. The upper portion of this face is dominated by a forked design incorporating 4 cup-marks, one of which is surrounded by a recessed band, and another by a partially defaced band. Close to this is an incomplete cup-and-two circles with satellite cup-mark; an incomplete cup-and-circle; 2 cup-marks surrounded by recessed bands and 1 cup-and-radial line. N stone W face: a cross and 8 cup-marks. N stone E face: 7 cup-marks. The stones are situated on wettish pasture land and Kinahan noted a 21/2 feet depth of peat around them. (Kinahan 1887, 432-7). 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. Date of upload: 22 September 2008