The Bullroarer Atlas

No. MUS2026-173

Nottingham notched bullroarer

United Kingdom · Nottinghamshire · Nottingham · Europe

Play / practical

Nottingham bullroarer with squared notches along both edges and an incised leaf-like outline down its face, Pitt Rivers Museum.
Plate I. Nottingham notched bullroarer with an incised leaf-like spine, Pitt Rivers Museum. Image source

Source term: Bullroarer

Heavy alternating notches turn the Nottingham blade into a wooden saw, while an incised leaf-like spine runs down its face.

Wooden 'Bullroarer' with notched edges.

Pitt Rivers Museum 1902.51.5

Particulars

Object
Notched carved wooden slat, 216 x 44 mm, with one terminal hole and an incised leaf-like spine.
Function
Boys' toy: in Haddon's words, 'a thin slat of wood tied to the end of a long piece of string,' whirled for its noise.

Source

Pitt Rivers Museum 1902.51.5

View the source · archived

Part of The Bullroarer Atlas, companion to The Eve Theory of Consciousness.