First recorded on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey 6-inch map simply as a standing stone, it later appeared on the 2nd and 3rd editions under the name ‘Carrickahattan’. The stone’s remote location has made it something of an enigma; its position on the mountainside is so difficult to reach that archaeological surveyors have been unable to conduct a proper inspection of the site.

This elusive monument forms part of a broader archaeological landscape documented in the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, compiled by Brian Lacey and his team in 1983. The survey catalogued field antiquities spanning from the Mesolithic Period through to the 17th century, creating an invaluable record of the county’s ancient heritage. Whilst many sites in the survey have been thoroughly examined and documented, Carrickahattan remains tantalisingly out of reach, its exact nature and origins still waiting to be properly understood.

The standing stone shares its general area with other archaeological features, including a pair of standing stones at nearby Barnesyneilly, suggesting this part of Donegal may have held particular significance for prehistoric communities. These monuments, whether solitary markers or paired stones, likely served various purposes; territorial boundaries, ceremonial sites, or astronomical alignments. Until someone manages to navigate the challenging terrain to reach Carrickahattan, however, its specific role in the ancient landscape of Croaghnameal mountain remains a matter of speculation.