Lankill Standing Stone
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Lankill Standing Stone
| native_name = Gallán Lainn Chille
| native_language = ga
| image =
|other_name =
| elevation = {{Convert|47|m|abbr=on}}
| locmapin = Ireland
| coordinates = {{coord|53.753238|N|9.501742|W|display=inline,title}}
| location = Lankill, Aughagower,
County Mayo, Ireland
| area =
| built = 2000 BC or later
| architect =
| architecture =
| governing_body =
| owner =
| type = Standing stone
| height = {{Convert|2.5|m|abbr=on}}
| designation1 = National Monument of Ireland
| designation1_offname = Lankill Standing Stone
| designation1_date =
| designation1_number = 296
}}
Lankill Standing Stone is a standing stone and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-mayo.pdf|title=National Monuments in State Care : Ownership & Guardianship : Mayo|date=4 March 2009|website=Archaeology.ie|accessdate=5 August 2018}}
Location
Lankill Standing Stone stands in a field {{Convert|2.7|km|abbr=on}} west-southwest of Aughagower, south of Knappaghbeg Lough. Toberbrendan, an early monastic site, is immediately to the southwest.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TyDiLU70TREC&q=Lankill&pg=PA252|title=Pilgrimage in Ireland: The Monuments and the People|first=Peter|last=Harbison|date=1 April 1995|publisher=Syracuse University Press|isbn=9780815603122|via=Google Books}}
History
The stone possibly dates to the Bronze Age period but was Christianised centuries later with a cross carved on it.{{cite web|url=http://croaghpatrickknockheritagetrail.ie/category/heritage/|title=Heritage - Croagh Patrick Knock Heritage trail|website=Croaghpatrickknockheritagetrail.ie}}
The purpose of standing stones is unclear; they may have served as boundary markers, ritual or ceremonial sites, burial sites or astrological alignments.{{cite web|url=http://www.mayonews.ie/living/47-living/15289-culture-legacy-of-lankill|title=CULTURE Legacy of Lankill|first=Áine|last=Ryan|publisher=The Mayo News}}
Description
The stone is a spike of shale {{Convert|2.5|m|abbr=on}} tall. On the west face is a cross with a V-shaped ornament beneath it, and on the east face is a Latin cross in a double circle and four concentric circles; this probably indicates a "pagan" monument that was later appropriated by Christians.{{cite web|url=http://www.megalithicmonumentsofireland.com/COUNTIES/MAYO/Lankill_CrossPillar.html|title=LANKILL CROSS PILLAR/MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS OF IRELAND|date=2011|website=Megalithixcmonumentsofireland.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishmegaliths.org.uk/crosspillars1.htm|title=Some Spared Stones of Ireland|website=Irishmegaliths.org}}
References
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