Bullaun stone

The National Monuments Service's description

Discovered in the course of a DAFM archaeological field inspection in advance of a proposed afforestation project. Located in dense vegetation comprising reeds, gorse and grasses, c. 3.3m N of a SE–NW orientated watercourse and on the W-side and base of a narrow, shallow but steep-sided gully/ relict dry watercourse (Wth c. 1.2m; D 0.9m). There is a standing stone (WI021-079---) c. 55m to the SSW, a Linkardstown Burial site (WI021-057----) c. 65m to the NNE and Spinan’s Hill is just visible above the edge of the gully, to the E.
A low (H 0.32m) partially earthfast and soil-covered, rounded or concave-sided granite boulder (L 0.59m N–S) with mica inclusions, contains a very shallow (D 5cm), oval depression (surface diams. 0.25 N-S; 0.19m E-W; base diam. 6cm) apparently carved into its flatter, upper surface. The sides and base of the basin are smoother than the other faces of the boulder which is particularly evident given the large mica inclusions present in the boulder. A second, irregular-shaped and vegetation-covered boulder is contiguous at SW.

See attached images:

• WI021-090----_1 Looking N towards the possible bullaun stone (marked with a ranging rod), located in an overgrown gully with a watercourse to S. Séamus O Murchú

• WI021-090----_2 Looking W towards the possible bullaun with contiguous overgrown boulder to left. Séamus O Murchú

Compiled by: Gearoid Conroy

Date of upload: 14 November 2022