The 1st edition OS 6-inch map, typically meticulous in recording such features, shows no trace of this ancient monument; a curious omission that adds to its mystery. The stone occupies a prime position on good agricultural land, commanding extensive views across the surrounding countryside.

This solitary megalith forms part of Donegal’s rich archaeological heritage, documented in the comprehensive 1983 Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. The survey, compiled by Brian Lacey and his team of archaeologists, catalogued the county’s field antiquities spanning from the Mesolithic Period through to the 17th century. Standing stones like the one at Calhaem are amongst Ireland’s most enigmatic prehistoric monuments, erected for purposes that remain largely speculative; whether as territorial markers, ceremonial sites, or astronomical alignments.

The absence of the stone from early cartographic records raises interesting questions about its recognition and preservation. It may have been overlooked by early surveyors, considered unremarkable by local landowners, or simply lost amongst the everyday agricultural activities of the area. Today, it stands as a tangible link to Ireland’s prehistoric past, its weathered surface having witnessed millennia of human activity in this corner of Donegal.