This oversight is curious, as these early surveys were typically thorough in documenting ancient monuments across Ireland. The stone’s absence from historical records suggests it may have been considered unremarkable at the time, or perhaps the marshy terrain made it difficult for early surveyors to access.

The monument was properly documented during the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, conducted by Brian Lacey and his team in 1983. This extensive project catalogued field antiquities spanning from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century, finally giving this overlooked stone its rightful place in the archaeological record. Standing stones like this one are found throughout Ireland and typically date from the Bronze Age, roughly 2500 to 500 BCE, though their exact purpose remains a matter of scholarly debate.

The Skelpy stone’s setting in marshy ground is not unusual; many prehistoric monuments in Donegal occupy what might seem like inhospitable locations today. These areas may have held different significance in ancient times, when water levels, vegetation and land use patterns were quite different. Some archaeologists suggest such stones served as territorial markers, others propose astronomical alignments, whilst some believe they held ritual or commemorative functions for Bronze Age communities.