Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Bullaun stone
Butterhill, County Wicklow, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Butterhill
- County
- Wicklow
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 53.17194, -6.49643
- SMR number
- WI005-125----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1799 "Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Located at what was a N-facing slope overlooking the valley of the River Liffey before it was flooded and turned into the Pollaphuca reservoir. The reduced water level has revealed archaeological features on the newly exposed ground.
The granite stone is D-shaped in plan with two straight edges (L 42cm and 23cm), although it has a maximum ‘width’ of 40cm, almost as great as its long side. The height varies from 14cm to 22 cm and it has probably been shaped into its present form, which would just about contain one basin when completed. The underside is generally rounded but it has a skelp removed which was probably accidental and accounts for the different height of the stone at different sides. The upper surface has a single basin (diam. 19cm x 20cm; max. D 4cm). The peck marks used to excavate the basin can be seen clearly, so the bullaun stone was never finished and used as otherwise the surface of the basin would have been ground smooth.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Michael Moore
Date of upload: 4 October 2018
Nearby in the register
- Standing stoneunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
- Moundunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.