Re: Tipp Bullauns - Mr Bawn79! | Forum

County Tipperary 9

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Tipp Bullauns — Mr Bawn79!

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fitzcoraldo Nov 7, 2007 15:21:45

Replying to bawn79

bawn79 wrote:

My reason for posting these bullaun stones was because of their possible connection to rock-art. As you say it is more likely that in areas that bullauns that are earth-bound there is a better chance of there being rock-art in the vicinity

Hi Bawn
I'm not advocating removal of these sites just a flag to indicate that they may not be prehistoric, the same flag that is applied to all unprovenanced sites on TMA.

Is there a definite correlation between rock art/prehistoric sites and bullauns? There is definitely seems to be a correlation with christian sites. I guess it would make an interesting study.

cheers
fitz

StoneGloves Nov 7, 2007 15:58:24

Replying to fitzcoraldo

I always say 'don't judge anything by a photograph' but have a look at this stone ( http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/10749/kilruane.html ). Have a look on the right side of the stone. There are some cup-like hollows on the rock. One would assume that they are simply patterns of erosion, yet closer inspection, of the picture, suggests there may be channels between them. Both the channels and the cups are accepted Rock Art motifs and identifying them on the same stone as a Bullaun suggests that they are contemperaneus (a term I have just invented which means 'made with the same mindset').

It's a pity there are no true Ballauns in Knarsdale - but there is no shortage of linked cups and channels. Remember the flagpole theory for these hefty carvings? It's a New Moon in a couple of days and a good time to be beginning something!