Re: Calling Mr Hamhead | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Carn Brea 1

Image by Mr Hamhead

Calling Mr Hamhead

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Hob Apr 14, 2007 12:20:44

Replying to FourWinds

FourWinds wrote:

I have seen Borlase's rock basins compared to bullauns in some reports

It's not easy to ignore the similarities is it? Kinda like natural (or are they?) precursors to the Bullauns.

Did you spot the reference to 'Bully' stones in Mr Hamhead's pic here:
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/56793 ? Nowt definite, but a suspicious similarity in name and form, if not in function.

FourWinds Apr 14, 2007 14:42:57

Replying to Hob

No I didn't spot that. I have considered that bullauns were used for ore crushing rather than food preparation, as some (ridiculously in my opinion) suggest*.

Pigment preparation is another option - they could be the Neolithic/Bronze Age equivalent of those funky paint mixing machines in B&Q.

* I know that something similar was still in use in the Shetlands in the early 1900s, but I think this was more likely to be a re-use rather than an original use.