Standing stone in An Dumhaigh (tc Leitir Mhic An Bhaird)

A standing stone, now collapsed, 2.62m long × 0.31m wide × 0.23m thick tapering to .07m known as 'Cloghastuckan' and the 'Hanging Stone'. It originally stood on a large mound which has been excavated and which produced an extensive collection of material belonging to the Early Historic period (Ó Ríordáin and Rynne 1961, 58-64). The stone is lying in an area of fairly level sand to the E of the Dooey Sandhills. The mound, when excavated, produced evidence for four distinct periods of use, the last of which was as a cemetery. Prior to this, there were three phases of enclosed and unenclosed occupation dating 'to the early centuries A.D.' About 2,000 items were found and indicated 'a community of craftsmen who also practiced agriculture'. This mound, which was located on the Dooey Peninsula, in an area of large sand dunes, is the most important archaeological site of its period so far excavated in Donegal. In the winter of 1980 habitation material was exposed in the sandhills to the W of Cloghastuckan. This consisted of metal slag, animal bones and fire-cracked stones in a charcoal matrix. 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