Bullaun stone in Lickeen

Bullaun 3 in Lickeen consists of a small, rounded granite boulder (52x42cm across, 33cm deep). At one end is a bowl-shaped basin 26cm x 25cm across and 12cm deep. 4cm to one side of the basin are 2 drilled holes. 2.8 and 3c across, 2.5 and 4cm deep respectively. These are like the holes drilled for blasting large boulders, but it seems most unlikely that this ever required to split this particular stone, which is reasonably small and unlikely to have been extracted from a larger boulder. Therefore, the purpose of these is not clear. There is also a small cup mark 3.5cm across and 0.5cm deep. Compiled by: Chris Corlett Date of upload: 19 October 2012

Likely dating to the early Christian or later prehistoric period, bullaun stones like this one were often used for ritual purposes, such as the preparation of holy water or as pilgrimage sites. Local folklore may associate them with saintly figures or healing traditions.