The Bullroarer Atlas

174 archaeological records · candidates included

Archaeology

Excavated objects, assemblages, and rock-art depictions, alongside a small number of historical claims. Each record shows a date or the closest known period.

United States 24

  1. Sikyatki grave pahoBefore 1540 ADFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Mesa Verde Ruin 14 bone bullroarerc. 1150–1300 ADFunction not recorded
  3. Pueblo del Arroyo elk-bone bullroarerc. 1065–1150 ADWeather / fertility magic
  4. Salmon Pueblo turquoise-and-hematite mosaic bullroarerc. 1090–1280 ADFunction not recorded
  5. Birnirk site baleen bull-roarers (Ford 1959)c. 500–900 ADPlay / practical
  6. Carter Ranch bone bow guardc. 950–1200 ADFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  7. Castaic Cave Chumash funerary lot, collected by Stephen Bowers (1885)c. AD 1150–1800Sacred / spirit
  8. Coso Animal Master figureProbably before c. AD 1300Sacred / spirit - Candidate only
  9. Elk Hills cemetery bullroarer fragment (CA-KER-116)c. 1780–1818 ADFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  10. Hogup Cave bull-roarer, Stratum 3c. 7840–4540 BCFunction not recorded
  11. Rustler Hills infant-burial bull-roarerBefore c. 1100 ADFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  12. Hurricane Deck cave bullroarers (Santa Barbara County)Before c. AD 1770Function not recorded
  13. Kachina Cave serrated scapulac. 3050 BC–c. AD 600Function not recorded
  14. Navajo Reservoir rockshelter bullroarerc. 1500–1690 ADFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  15. Lovelock Cave paired pendantsc. 1000 BC–AD 300Function not recorded - Candidate only
  16. Mattocks bowl bullroarer scenec. 1000–1150 ADFunction not recorded
  17. Mesa Prieta horned figureUndatedFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  18. Blue River painted whizzerc. AD 1000–1130Sacred / spirit
  19. Muwu cache of three bullroarersc. 1500–1800 ADSacred / spirit
  20. Pecos Pueblo Kidder bull-roarerc. 1100–1540 ADFunction not recorded
  21. Santa Cruz Island ochre-filled bone pendantsc. 1400 BC–AD 300Function not recorded - Candidate only
  22. Bone bullroarer, Early Woodland site 40HW44 (Hawkins County, Tennessee)c. 1000–300 BCFunction not recorded
  23. Granite Hill funerary bullroarerUndatedSacred / spirit
  24. Verde Valley cliff-dweller rhombusBefore c. 1500 ADSacred / spirit

Japan 17

  1. Aomori Kiyou 30 Figure 7 perforated polished-stone-axe / stone-product setc. 5550–5050 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Endo Hiroya site large hera-shaped pendantc. 4050–3650 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  3. Heiwa site stone-axe-shaped pendantc. 7050–5950 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  4. Ishihara site large hera-shaped pendantc. 4050–3050 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  5. Kurawa sitec. 3750 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  6. Kuwano spatula-shaped pendants (箆状垂飾) — Early Jomon Japanc. 5050–4550 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  7. Miharadajo site no.432 large hera-shaped pendantc. 4050–3050 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  8. Mikamine site no.268 slate pendantc. 3950–3550 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  9. Mitsugosawa-naka site large hera-shaped pendantc. 4050–3050 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  10. Nokubi site trapezoid pendant-like objectUndatedFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  11. Kawajiri four-object perforated-axe group — Okhotsk Hokkaido, Initial Jomonc. 6100–4000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  12. Rokkanda Minami Figure 4 no.4 upper-holed stone productc. 3520–2470 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  13. Sannai-Maruyama official stone pendant 9530c. 5050–3520 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  14. Sannai-Maruyama short-rectangular pendant leadc. 3950–2250 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  15. Usukubo site official pendant groupc. 5000–400 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  16. Yamaguchidai site large hera-shaped pendantc. 4050–3050 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  17. Yoshimine sitec. 5050–3520 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

France 15

  1. Fontalès engraved bone bladec. 12,000–9000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Abri de Laugerie Basse Magdalenian bullroarerc. 15,000–9000 BCFunction not recorded
  3. Badegoule Palaeolithic bullroarerc. 23,000–17,000 BCFunction not recorded
  4. Bourrouilla (Arancou) cavec. 15,000–9000 BCSacred / spirit
  5. Grotte des Eyzies wolverine blade (BM Palart.102)c. 12,000–9000 BCFunction not recorded
  6. Brassempouy serpentiform ivory bladec. 29,500–26,500 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  7. Le Placard antler ovaloidc. 24,000–9000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  8. Isturitz cave Magdalenian bramaderasc. 15,000–12,000 BCFunction not recorded
  9. La Roche de Birol Magdalenian bullroarerc. 13,000–11,000 BCFunction not recorded
  10. La Vache cavec. 13,000 BCSacred / spirit
  11. Le Morin cavec. 12,000–9000 BCSacred / spirit
  12. Lespugue Solutrean bullroarerc. 22,000–17,000 BCFunction not recorded
  13. Lortet cavec. 13,000–9000 BCSacred / spirit
  14. Raymonden bramadera fragmentc. 13,000–9000 BCFunction not recorded
  15. Saint Marcel Magdalenian bullroarer pendantc. 17,000–14,500 BCFunction not recorded

Germany 11

  1. Bagow whirring bladec. 9600–4000 BCFunction not recorded
  2. Burgwall whirring bladec. 9600–4000 BCFunction not recorded
  3. Döberitz whirring bladec. 9600–4000 BCFunction not recorded
  4. Fernewerder decorated whirring bladec. 9600–4000 BCFunction not recorded
  5. Gadebusch Schwirrplättchen (decorated bone plate)c. 600–300 BCFunction not recorded
  6. Hohen Viecheln whirring devicec. 9000–7000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  7. Pritzerber See Late Paleolithic bone bull-roarerc. 14,000–10,000 BCFunction not recorded
  8. Satzkorn whirring bladec. 9600–4000 BCFunction not recorded
  9. Stellmoor Ahrensburg reindeer-bone bullroarerc. 10,900–9700 BCFunction not recorded
  10. Vogelherd perforated ivory batonc. 38,000–32,000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  11. Wustermark plain whirring bladec. 9600–4000 BCFunction not recorded

Spain 11

  1. Aitzbitarte IV cavec. 13,000–9000 BCSacred / spirit
  2. Aizkoltxo engraved rib plaquec. 12,840–12,160 BCFunction not recorded
  3. Altamira cave bramaderac. 22,000–17,000 BCFunction not recorded
  4. Bolinkoba cavec. 15,000–9000 BCSacred / spirit
  5. El Valle cave zumbaderac. 13,000–9500 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  6. Tito Bustillo rib spatulac. 15,800–15,400 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  7. El Cierro perforated plaquec. 18,000–16,500 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  8. El Juyo fusiform bone fragmentc. 15,450–13,920 BCFunction not recorded
  9. El Pendo Magdalenian bramaderac. 15,000–9000 BCFunction not recorded
  10. La Paloma cave Magdalenian bramaderac. 15,000–12,000 BCFunction not recorded
  11. Llonín bone plaquec. 15,000–12,000 BCFunction not recorded

China 10

  1. Beifudi jade bi-shaped blade (玉匕) — from a sacrificial groundc. 6050–5350 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Chahai jade bi-shaped blades (匕形器) — bullroarer-form 'pendants'c. 6250–5650 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  3. Chaoyang Museum jade insect-head pendant pairc. 4500–3000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  4. De Fu Museum jade insect-head pendant, Chaoyangc. 4500–3000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  5. Niudaokou village / Baodi leadc. 6050–5050 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  6. Niuheliang N5SCZ1:2 white-jade boardc. 3500–3000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  7. Xiaonanshan jade bi-shaped blades (玉匕) — Ussuri, c. 7050 BCc. 7250–6650 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  8. Xibenbaoleng tomb jade bi-shaped blades (匕形器) — jue at the head, blades at the waistc. 6250–5450 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  9. Xinglonggou House 22 jade bi-shaped blades (匕形器)c. 6250–5450 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  10. Xinglongwa type-site jade bi-shaped blades (匕形器)c. 6200–5400 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Netherlands 9

  1. Voorstraat snorrebot stripc. 1650–1750 ADFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Groot Olmen antler snorrebotc. 475–600 ADFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  3. Huis Dever snorrebotc. 1600–1750 ADPlay / practical
  4. Middenbeemster Keyserkerk bone snorrebotc. 1615–1867 ADPlay / practical
  5. Schagen two-hole snorrebotc. 1600–1625 ADFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  6. Portegies snorrebotc. 1600–1700 ADPlay / practical
  7. Schellinkhout half-drilled snorrebotc. 1600–1700 ADPlay / practical - Candidate only
  8. Tilburg-Kraaiven Late Mesolithic zoemsteenc. 5500 BCFunction not recorded
  9. Utrecht Wittevrouwenstraat rib snorrebot pairBefore c. 1550 AD; c. 1640–1914 ADPlay / practical

Australia 8

  1. Burgess Point / Port Hedland Complex bullroarer motifWithin the last c. 7,000 yearsFunction not recorded
  2. Clews Ridge small burnt bullroarerProbably after c. AD 1800Function not recorded
  3. Cromer Valley bent-line motifc. 3000 BC–AD 1800Function not recorded - Candidate only
  4. Ellis Trig oval engravingc. 3000 BC–AD 1800Function not recorded - Candidate only
  5. Flat Rocks Ridge oval-and-line engravingc. 3000 BC–AD 1800Function not recorded - Candidate only
  6. Hidden Valley bullroarer paintingsUndatedFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  7. Kings Tableland bullroarer stencilsWithin the last c. 4,000 yearsSacred / spirit
  8. Etarratarra twin-boys bullroarersUndatedSacred / spirit

Turkey 6

  1. Boncuklu Tarla figured bone plaque (Kemik Plak 3)c. 8550–8300 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Çatalhöyük antler bullroarer 11910.X1c. 6700–6500 BCFunction not recorded
  3. Çatalhöyük Building 59 antler pendantc. 6610–6250 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  4. Göbekli Tepe decorated bone spatulaec. 9500–8000 BCFunction not recorded
  5. Hasankeyf Höyük elongated bone plaquec. 9500–9000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  6. Körtik Tepe decorated perforated bone plaquesc. 10,400–9300 BCFunction not recorded

Argentina 5

  1. Alero de los Jinetes whirled-cord ridersc. 1573–1625 ADPlay / practical - Candidate only
  2. Northern Patagonia engraved-plaque churinga analoguec. 2200 BC–presentSacred / spirit
  3. Copacabana incised stone bullroarerc. 200 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  4. Pair of incised stone bullroarersc. 200 BCFunction not recorded
  5. Llullaillaco Spondylus buzzing plaquesc. 1462–1507 ADSacred / spirit - Candidate only

Russia 5

  1. Chertovy Vorota (Devil's Gate Cave) nephrite bi-shaped blades — Primoryec. 5750–4750 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Kondon nephrite blesny / Lower Amur slat-lurec. 3350–3050 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  3. Mal'ta engraved ivory plaque (churinga analogy)c. 22,000–17,000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  4. Novgorod whirring laths, Troitsky and Nikitinsky excavations (13th-14th c.)13th–14th centuries ADFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  5. Novopokrovka / Novopokrovskoe nephrite blesny leadc. 5000–3000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Slovenia 5

  1. Divje Babe perforated jaw fragmentc. 88,000–68,000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Mala Triglavca bone fish brnivkac. 10,000–5500 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  3. Potočka perforated bone pointc. 33,000 BCFunction not recorded
  4. Potočka perforated rib fragmentc. 35,000–31,000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  5. Potočka perforated mandiblec. 33,000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Canada 4

  1. Classic Lillooet (St'át'imc) — Keatley Creek (EeRl 7)c. 350 BC–AD 850Function not recorded
  2. Departure Bay whalebone bullroarer (DhRx-16:1166)UndatedFunction not recorded
  3. Malerualik miniature antler bullroarerc. AD 1000–1400Play / practical
  4. Northern Labrador Inuit bullroarers WhitridgeBefore c. 1500 ADPlay / practical

Bosnia and Herzegovina 3

  1. Saw-toothed perforated bullroarerc. 6000–5350 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Donja Dolina perforated whetstonesc. 1200–1 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  3. Mahrevići perforated whetstoneAfter c. 250 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Italy 3

  1. Castelluccio bossed bone plaquec. 2150–1650 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Baravitalla three-boss bone plaquec. 2150–1650 BCSacred / spirit - Candidate only
  3. Riparo Gaban bone fish plaquec. 4080–4040 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Mexico 3

  1. Bahia de Los Angeles cave findc. 1500–1800 ADFunction not recorded
  2. Sierra de la Giganta bullroarerUndatedFunction not recorded
  3. San Julio Basin ironwood bullroarerUndatedFunction not recorded

Norway 3

  1. Normannsvika slate bladec. 4500–4240 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Stunner brummerc. 8500 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  3. Tuv Saltstraumen shale bullroarerc. 3040–2620 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

South Africa 3

  1. Doring River rock-art bullroarer playersAt least 2,000 years oldSacred / spirit
  2. Matjes River MR 40 bullroarerc. 7630–3450 BCFunction not recorded
  3. Orange Springs painted trance-dance bullroarerc. 1000 BC–AD 1906Sacred / spirit - Candidate only

United Kingdom 3

  1. Glenviggan thunder-spadec. 200 BC–AD 65Function not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Pin Hole Cave Gravettian bullroarer pendantc. 32,000–20,000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  3. Torksey bone roarerc. AD 800–1000Function not recorded - Candidate only

Austria 2

  1. Schletz cattle-scapula platec. 5000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Tischofer perforated bone needlec. 38,000–32,000 BC or 2200–1600 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Greenland 2

  1. Clavering Island Site D bullroarer (NMAI 17/9591)c. 1600–1800 ADFunction not recorded
  2. Clavering Island Site C East Greenland NMAI 17-9504c. 1600–1800 ADFunction not recorded

Latvia 2

  1. Cēsis Castle rib rūcamkauliņi12th–19th centuries ADPlay / practical
  2. Riga Alksnāja Street rib bullroarer13th–17th centuries ADPlay / practical

Peru 2

  1. Ancon necropolis perforated bone spatulas (PRM 1919.59.88, .89)c. 200 BC–AD 1550Function not recorded - Candidate only
  2. Three Vicús stone buzzing plaquesc. 500 BC–AD 400Function not recorded - Candidate only

Belgium 1

  1. Gent rib snorrebotc. 800–1100 ADFunction not recorded

Bolivia 1

  1. Tiwanaku stone bullroarerc. AD 180–1100Function not recorded - Candidate only

Brazil 1

  1. Lagoa das Oncas ceramic zumbidor (MPEG 2011)c. 1000–1600 ADFunction not recorded

Chile 1

  1. Concón copper-and-slate plate pendantsc. AD 500–1000Function not recorded

Croatia 1

  1. Smilčići bone platec. 6000–5500 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Czech Republic 1

  1. Pavlovian rhombe — the sourced 'oldest bullroarer' claimc. 22,000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Denmark 1

  1. Kongemose bone bullroarerc. 6500 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

India 1

  1. Taru Thang held-implement figurePossibly c. 8500–3000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Ireland 1

  1. Loughcrew Cairn H perforated bone slips165–55 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Israel 1

  1. Nahal Hemar Cave elongated bone plaquesc. 8000–7000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Namibia 1

  1. Brandberg rock-painting bullroarer depictionc. 4,000–2,000 years agoSacred / spirit

New Zealand 1

  1. Pig Bay bone kōrorohūc. 1400–1500 ADPlay / practical - Candidate only

New Zealand (Chatham Islands) 1

  1. Moriori (Chatham Is. whale-bone find)c. AD 1400–1901Function not recorded

Romania 1

  1. Cuina Turcului decorated antler plaquec. 12,700–11,000 cal BCFunction not recorded

Serbia 1

  1. Vlasac wooden bullroarerc. 6300–5200 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Sweden 1

  1. Lund Helgonabacken bone vinareUndatedPlay / practical

Ukraine 1

  1. Ukraine 'oldest bullroarer' claim (Gregor) — supersededc. 17,000 BCFunction not recorded - Candidate only

Zimbabwe 1

  1. Lendy 1 Zimbabwe rock-art bullroarerProbably more than 2,000 years agoFunction not recorded - Candidate only