Standing stone, Altashane Or Cabadooey, Co. Donegal

This standing stone, measuring 2.76 metres high, 1.35 metres wide, and 0.22 metres thick, is oriented along a north-south axis and bears the distinctive markings of ancient artistry. The eastern face of the stone features one cup-and-circle design alongside at least nineteen cup-marks; small, circular depressions carved into the rock surface that represent one of Ireland's most enigmatic forms of prehistoric art.

The western face of the stone may contain additional cup-marks, though these are less certain and require careful examination to verify. Cup-marked stones like this one date primarily to the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods, roughly 4000 to 1000 BCE, and their exact purpose remains a subject of archaeological debate. Some researchers suggest they held ritual or astronomical significance, whilst others propose they may have served as territorial markers or formed part of a broader sacred landscape.

This particular stone forms part of County Donegal's rich archaeological heritage, documented comprehensively in the Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, which catalogues field antiquities from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century. The presence of both cup-marks and the more elaborate cup-and-circle motif on a single stone is relatively uncommon, making this monument particularly significant for understanding the symbolic practices of Ireland's prehistoric communities.