Bullaun stone in Cill Fhiontain

Kilfountan Church and Calluragh burial ground/Teampall Fionntain: A roughly D-shaped or sub-oval enclosure within which are the remains of an oratory and rectangular hut, a cross-inscribed ogham stone and a bullaun stone. A quernstone from the site, probably of Disc A type (Caulfield 1969, 64 and 69), is now in the Museum in Cork. Children were still being buried here in the 19th century (OSNB Kildrum, 31). The site is located in the low-lying, level plain that lies N of Dingle Harbour. Bullaun Stone: Lying loose beside the cross-slab, this stone measures .74m x .56m x .21m in depth. It is roughly rectangular in plan and basin-shaped in section and the oval depression in its upper surface measures .42m x .29m x .15m in depth. To see a 3D model of this monument, visit; https://skfb.ly/onCOo The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 849. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013

Probably dating to the early Christian period (5th–9th centuries AD), the bullaun stone was likely used for ritual purposes, such as the preparation of holy water or as a pilgrim site, reflecting the spiritual significance of the surrounding ecclesiastical and burial landscape.