Whilst local tradition speaks of a standing stone at Rossgeir, no trace of this ancient marker appears on the first edition Ordnance Survey six-inch map, suggesting either its removal before the mid-19th century surveys or perhaps a case of mistaken identity that has persisted through generations of local memory.

The site sits on fertile agricultural land, the kind of rich soil that has sustained farming communities along the Deele for millennia. This proximity to good land and fresh water would have made it an ideal location for prehistoric monuments; standing stones across Ireland often mark boundaries, burial sites, or served ritual purposes for the communities that erected them. The mystery of Rossgeir’s missing stone adds another layer to Donegal’s complex archaeological landscape, where Bronze Age monuments dot the countryside alongside medieval ruins and more recent historical sites.

This information comes from the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, compiled by Brian Lacey and his team in 1983, which catalogued field antiquities from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century. The survey, now a cornerstone resource for understanding the county’s ancient past, continues to be updated as new discoveries emerge, though the enigma of Rossgeir’s standing stone remains unresolved.