The Bullroarer Atlas

Records by area · 194 records

Bullroarer records — Europe

Bullroarer record pages from Europe, grouped by present-day country. Each page keeps the record text, source line, image credit, and a link back to the same point on the interactive map.

Shared traditions: Europe · Italy

Austria 3

  1. Schletz cattle-scapula platec. 5000 BC · Weinviertel / Lower Austria, Asparn an der Zaya-Schletz · Function not recorded
  2. Pottenbrunn twisted bone bladec. 330–180 BC · Traisen valley near St. Pölten, Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) · Function not recorded
  3. Tischofer perforated bone needlec. 38,000–32,000 BC or 2200–1600 BC · Tyrol / Kaisergebirge / Kaisertal above Kufstein · Function not recorded

Belgium 2

  1. Belgian planchette ronflanteBelgium (locality unrecorded) · Play / practical
  2. Gent rib snorrebotc. 800–1100 AD · East Flanders / Gent, corner of Gouvernementstraat and Borreputsteeg · Function not recorded

Bosnia and Herzegovina 3

  1. Donja Dolina perforated stone bladec. 1200–1 BC · Donja Dolina pile-dwelling, Sava riverbed near Bosanska Gradiška · Function not recorded
  2. Mahrevići perforated whetstoneAfter c. 250 BC · Mahrevići tumulus, Čajniče district · Function not recorded
  3. Obre I saw-toothed bone arcc. 6000–5350 BC · Obre I (Raskršće), Kakanj, central Bosnia; Starčevo-Impresso phase I, Early Neolithic · Function not recorded

Bulgaria 1

  1. Bulgarian bramkalo bullroarerBulgaria · Play / practical

Croatia 9

  1. Vodnjan la sfronda bullroarerDignano / Vodnjan, Istria · Play / practical
  2. Buje boyhood bullroarer (Vigini reconstruction)Buie / Buje, Istrian Carso · Play / practical
  3. Cittanova Novigrad la fionda bullroarerCittanova / modern Novigrad / Istria · Play / practical
  4. Porec coa de la cagnea bullroarerParenzo / Porec, Istria · Play / practical
  5. Rovinj la bus de la viecia bullroarerRovigno / Rovinj, Istria · Play / practical
  6. Portole (Oprtalj) romboInland Istria · Play / practical
  7. Lake Arsa herders livestock-driving bullroarerLake Arsa / modern Cepicko polje below Ucka / Istria · Play / practical
  8. Smilčići bone platec. 6000–5500 BC · Smilčići / northern Dalmatia · Function not recorded
  9. Vrbnik grmavica, a handheld stormKrk Island (Bodulija), Primorje-Gorski Kotar · Function not recorded

Czech Republic 2

  1. Pavlovian rhombe horizonc. 24,000 years ago · Moravia; Pavlovian (eastern Gravettian) · Function not recorded
  2. Předmostí concentric-arc ivory pendantc. 29,500–27,500 BC · Moravia / Přerov; Gravettian (Pavlovian) mammoth-hunters' camp, labelled 'Solutréen' by Hoernes · Function not recorded

Denmark 1

  1. Kongemose bone bullroarerc. 6500 BC · Aamose / western Zealand · Function not recorded

Estonia 1

  1. Estonian vuristi / vuripuu, Karja parishKarja parish, Saaremaa · Play / practical

Finland 1

  1. Nivala suhistuspuu herding bull-roarerPohjois-Pohjanmaa (North Ostrobothnia) / Nivala · Play / practical

France 22

  1. Fontalès engraved bone bladec. 12,000–9000 BC · Tarn-et-Garonne / Aveyron valley; Magdalenian V · Function not recorded
  2. Abri de Laugerie Basse Magdalenian bullroarerc. 15,000–9000 BC · Dordogne / Les Eyzies · Function not recorded
  3. Badegoule Palaeolithic bullroarerc. 23,000–17,000 BC · Dordogne · Function not recorded
  4. Béarn hurrumbo pastoral bullroarerBearn / Pyrenees · Play / practical
  5. Bourrouilla whale-and-stag rib bladesc. 15,000–9000 BC · Magdalenian (decorated rib series Upper Magdalenian), Pyrénées-Atlantiques · Function not recorded
  6. Rofla, the Limousin schoolmaster's roarerLimousin / Haute-Vienne / Château-Chervix · Play / practical
  7. Medieval European Holy-Spirit bullroarer emblemLanguedoc (medieval Albigensian Europe) · Sacred / spirit
  8. Grotte des Eyzies animal-scene bramaderac. 12,000–9000 BC · Dordogne / Les Eyzies; Magdalenian final attribution · Function not recorded
  9. Lespugue Solutrean hearth bladec. 22,000–17,000 BC · Haute-Garonne / Pyrenees · Function not recorded
  10. Brassempouy serpentiform ivory bladec. 29,500–26,500 BC · Landes / Grotte du Pape; Middle Gravettian reassessment · Function not recorded
  11. Le Placard antler ovaloidc. 24,000–9000 BC · Charente / Vilhonneur · Function not recorded
  12. Isturitz cave Magdalenian bramaderasc. 15,000–12,000 BC · Pyrenees-Atlantiques / Isturitz level II; Middle Magdalenian · Function not recorded
  13. La Madeleine chevron fragmentc. 15,000–9000 BC · Dordogne / Tursac; Magdalenian attribution · Function not recorded
  14. La Roche de Birol Magdalenian bullroarerc. 13,000–11,000 BC · Dordogne · Function not recorded
  15. La Vache cavec. 13,000 BC · Magdalenian final, Ariege · Sacred / spirit
  16. Le Morin cavec. 12,000–9000 BC · Magdalenian final, Gironde · Sacred / spirit
  17. Commensacq Guidanson burrumbe rhombeLandes / Gascogne · Weather / fertility magic
  18. Lortet cavec. 13,000–9000 BC · Magdalenian IV-VI (Hautes-Pyrenees) · Sacred / spirit
  19. Raymonden bramadera fragmentc. 13,000–9000 BC · Dordogne / Chancelade; Magdalenian superior · Function not recorded
  20. Saint Marcel Magdalenian bullroarer pendantc. 17,000–14,500 BC · Saint-Marcel, Indre · Function not recorded
  21. Saint-Hippolyte childhood rhombeSaint-Hippolyte, Charente-Maritime · Play / practical
  22. Villefranche-de-Lauragais fish-tailed rhombeHaute-Garonne / Lauragais · Play / practical

France / Spain 1

  1. Basque burruna and furrunfarra bullroarerBasque Country / Alava, Lekeitio, Sara · Play / practical

Germany 14

  1. Bagow whirring bladec. 9600–4000 BC · Brandenburg / former Kreis Brandenburg · Function not recorded
  2. Black Forest (Germany) Schlägel bull-roarerBlack Forest / Schwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg · Play / practical
  3. Gützlafshagen children's SchwirrholzGut Gutzlafshagen / modern Gutzlaffshagen near Garz / Rugen · Play / practical
  4. Stolzenau childhood SchwirrholzStolzenau / Kingdom of Hanover / modern Lower Saxony · Play / practical
  5. Burgwall whirring bladec. 9600–4000 BC · Brandenburg / former Kreis Gransee · Function not recorded
  6. Döberitz whirring bladec. 9600–4000 BC · Brandenburg / Havelland, former Kreis Rathenow · Function not recorded
  7. Fernewerder decorated whirring bladec. 9600–4000 BC · Brandenburg / former Kreis Nauen · Function not recorded
  8. Gadebusch Schwirrplättchen (decorated bone plate)c. 600–300 BC · Mecklenburg / Gadebusch · Function not recorded
  9. Hohen Viecheln whirring devicec. 9000–7000 BC · Mecklenburg / former Kreis Wismar · Function not recorded
  10. Pritzerber See dotted bone bladec. 10,500–9900 BC · Pritzerber See, Havelland; Late Glacial (direct date c. 10,500–9900 BC) · Function not recorded
  11. Satzkorn whirring bladec. 9600–4000 BC · Brandenburg / former Kreis Potsdam · Function not recorded
  12. Stellmoor Ahrensburg reindeer-bone bullroarerc. 10,900–9700 BC · Northern Germany / Ahrensburg culture · Function not recorded
  13. Vogelherd perforated ivory batonc. 38,000–32,000 BC · Lone Valley / Swabian Jura, Baden-Württemberg · Function not recorded
  14. Wustermark plain whirring bladec. 9600–4000 BC · Brandenburg / Havelland · Function not recorded

Greece 3

  1. Rhombos of the Greek mysteriesRestricted
  2. Athenian Sabazios mysteries (Glaukothea / Aeschines)Classical Athens, mid-4th c. BC · Restricted
  3. Modern Greek vouga bullroarerGreece; country-wide folk-instrument attestation, locality unrecorded · Play / practical

Hungary 2

  1. Hajdúszoboszló board zúgattyúHajdú district, Kingdom of Hungary · Play / practical
  2. Kissziget (Göcsej) whip-mounted zúgattyúZala county (Goecsej region) · Play / practical

Ireland 2

  1. Loughcrew Cairn H perforated bone slips165–55 BC · Co. Meath / Sliabh na Caillí (Loughcrew), Carnbane West; Iron Age deposit in a Neolithic passage tomb · Function not recorded
  2. Maynooth roarer among homemade toysIrish Folklife Collection / Maynooth donor metadata · Play / practical

Italy 23

  1. Ales frúsciu reconstruction (Sardinia)Ales (Zeppara), Oristano, Sardinia · Play / practical
  2. Amaseno moscono, Monti LepiniLazio / Monti Lepini · Play / practical
  3. Badia Polesine: the roarer called DeathBadia Polesine region, Rovigo (Veneto), c. 1880 · Function not recorded
  4. Giugliano fru-fru bullroarerCampania · Play / practical
  5. Marzi whip-handled bullroarerCalabria / Cosenza · Play / practical
  6. Petriolo svendolaMarche / Macerata · Play / practical
  7. Friulian plain el tuto bullroarerFriuli / Aquileia, Ronchi, Cervignano · Play / practical
  8. Trieste la striga bullroarerTrieste / Rozzol-Settefontane · Play / practical
  9. Venice el motor bullroarerVenice / Cannaregio · Play / practical
  10. Castelluccio bossed bone plaquec. 2150–1650 BC · Val di Noto / province of Syracuse, Sicily · Function not recorded
  11. Ceneselli rombo with a pig boneCeneselli, Alto Polesine, Rovigo (Veneto) · Play / practical
  12. Baravitalla three-boss bone plaquec. 2150–1650 BC · Cava d'Ispica / province of Ragusa, Sicily · Sacred / spirit
  13. Vallebona (Macerata) vendolaMarche / Macerata · Play / practical
  14. Gavoi burriburri (frusciu)Sardinia / Barbagia · Play / practical
  15. Mistretta Sicily lapuni Holy Week bullroarerSicily / Messina Province · Sacred / spirit
  16. Upper Illasi valley surla a manVeneto / Lessinia · Play / practical
  17. Piedmont folk romboPiedmont (Riva presso Chieri; Cambiano) · Play / practical
  18. Poffabro rombo (spatola)Friuli / Val Colvera · Play / practical
  19. Riparo Gaban bone fish plaquec. 4080–4040 BC · Trentino / Adige valley · Function not recorded
  20. Rome bone feather-bladeRome (collecting locality; no findspot, no period assigned) · Function not recorded
  21. Sant'Andrea Ionio Holy Week bullroarerCalabria / Catanzaro Ionian coast · Sacred / spirit
  22. Sora / Ciociaria je mesconeLazio / Ciociaria · Play / practical
  23. Modena frullo, the swineherds' whirled boneModena countryside, Emilia · Play / practical

Latvia 2

  1. Cēsis Castle rib rūcamkauliņi12th–19th centuries AD · Vidzeme / Livonia · Play / practical
  2. Riga Alksnāja Street rib bullroarer13th–17th centuries AD · Riga old town · Play / practical

Lithuania 2

  1. Schwarzort serrated amber bladesc. 3000–2000 BC · Curonian Spit / Curonian Lagoon; former East Prussia (Schwarzort, Kreis Memel); Late Neolithic · Function not recorded
  2. Lithuanian brūklys herders' bullroarerLithuania (country-level) · Play / practical

Netherlands 12

  1. Alkmaar brommer (bullroarer)North Holland / Alkmaar · Play / practical
  2. Amsterdam Damrak rib snorrebottenc. 1200–1700 AD · Amsterdam / Damrak / Noord-Zuidlijn excavation · Function not recorded
  3. Voorstraat snorrebot stripc. 1650–1750 AD · South Holland / Dordrecht, Leeuwenburg-Mijnsherenherberg on the Voorstraat · Function not recorded
  4. Groningen snorrebotGroningen province (NE-Netherlands dialect belt) · Play / practical
  5. Groot Olmen antler snorrebotc. 475–600 AD · Zuid-Kennemerland dunes / North Holland · Function not recorded
  6. Huis Dever snorrebotc. 1600–1750 AD · South Holland / Lisse, Huis (Huys) Dever · Play / practical
  7. Middenbeemster Keyserkerk bone snorrebotc. 1615–1867 AD · North Holland / Beemster polder · Play / practical
  8. Schagen two-hole snorrebotc. 1600–1625 AD · North Holland / Schagen · Function not recorded
  9. Portegies snorrebotc. 1600–1700 AD · North Holland / Beverwijk, Portegies · Play / practical
  10. Schellinkhout half-drilled snorrebotc. 1600–1700 AD · North Holland / Drechterland · Play / practical
  11. Tilburg-Kraaiven Late Mesolithic zoemsteenc. 5500 BC · North Brabant / Tilburg-Kraaiven · Function not recorded
  12. Utrecht Wittevrouwenstraat rib snorrebot pairBefore c. 1550 AD; c. 1640–1914 AD · Utrecht / city centre · Play / practical

Norway 5

  1. Madla snorlebeinRogaland / Stavanger · Play / practical
  2. Normannsvika slate bladec. 4500–4240 BC · Finnmark / Melkøya, Hammerfest · Function not recorded
  3. Norway fishermen wind-protection bullroarersNorwegian fjords · Weather / fertility magic
  4. Stunner brummerc. 8500 BC · Follo / Akershus (now Nordre Follo), Southeast Norway · Function not recorded
  5. Tuv Saltstraumen shale bullroarerc. 3040–2620 BC · Nordland / Saltstraumen · Function not recorded

Poland 2

  1. Ratzebuhr Schwirrholz survivalRatzebuhr / Kreis Neustettin / Hinterpommern / modern Okonek · Play / practical
  2. West Prussia Marienwerder SchwirrholzWest Prussia · Play / practical

Poland / Ukraine 1

  1. Galicia San River bzik bullroarerGalicia / San River · Play / practical

Portugal 1

  1. Portugal zunas harvest tabooPortugal · Play / practical

Romania 5

  1. Cuina Turcului decorated antler plaquec. 12,700–11,000 cal BC · Iron Gates / Danube Gorges; Cuina Turcului rockshelter, Dubova, Mehedinti · Function not recorded
  2. Arad Maros zúgattyú bullroarerArad / Maros (Mures) embankment · Play / practical
  3. Torda bungatytyu shingle bullroarerTorda (Turda), Torda-Aranyos county, Transylvania · Play / practical
  4. Bucesti trench bullroarer, July 1917Siret front, Galati county · Play / practical
  5. Esztelnek Székely surrogtató bullroarerCovasna / Esztelnek (Estelnic) · Play / practical

Russia 3

  1. Eliseevichi engraved ivory plaquesc. 19,000–13,000 BC · Sudost' valley, Desna basin, Bryansk Oblast (Oryol Oblast in 1935) · Function not recorded
  2. Kildin Sámi navv’t beast-howlerMurmansk Oblast / Kola Peninsula · Function not recorded
  3. Novgorod tanged whirring laths13th–14th centuries AD · Novgorod the Great (Sophia and Trade sides) · Function not recorded

Serbia 2

  1. Torzsa (Savino Selo) zúgó / WindbrummerBácska (Bács-Bodrog county), Kingdom of Hungary · Play / practical
  2. Vlasac wooden bullroarerc. 6300–5200 BC · Vlasac / Iron Gates (Đerdap), Danube Gorge · Function not recorded

Slovakia 1

  1. Slovak Malaczka-area toy SchwirrholzWest slope of the Little Carpathians around Malaczka (now Malacky) · Play / practical

Slovenia 9

  1. Koper el volo bullroarerCapodistria / Koper, Istria · Play / practical
  2. Postojna bullroarerPostumia / Postojna, Carniola · Play / practical
  3. Piran rullo bullroarerPirano / Piran, Istria · Play / practical
  4. Divje Babe perforated jaw fragmentc. 88,000–68,000 BC · Cerkno / Idrijca valley, western Slovenia · Function not recorded
  5. Mala Triglavca bone fish brnivkac. 10,000–5500 BC · Kras (Karst) plateau / Divača · Function not recorded
  6. Potočka perforated bone pointc. 33,000 BC · Potočka zijalka / eastern Karawanks · Function not recorded
  7. Potočka perforated rib fragmentc. 35,000–31,000 BC · Potočka zijalka / eastern Karawanks · Function not recorded
  8. Potočka perforated mandiblec. 33,000 BC · Potočka zijalka / eastern Karawanks · Function not recorded
  9. Slovenia brnivka bullroarerSlovenia · Play / practical

Spain 21

  1. Aitzbitarte IV cavec. 13,000–9000 BC · Magdalenian Cantabrian (Errenteria, Gipuzkoa) · Sacred / spirit
  2. Aizkoltxo engraved rib plaquec. 12,840–12,160 BC · Aizkoltxo Cave / Mendaro / Gipuzkoa · Function not recorded
  3. Altamira cave bramaderac. 22,000–17,000 BC · Cantabria / Altamira; advanced Solutrean or Magdalenian attribution debated · Function not recorded
  4. Bolinkoba cavec. 15,000–9000 BC · Magdalenian Cantabrian (Abadiño, Bizkaia) · Sacred / spirit
  5. Carballedo Lugo zoadeira bullroarerGalicia / Lugo / Carballedo · Play / practical
  6. Artajona shoe-polish-tin zumbaderasArtajona / Navarra · Play / practical
  7. Riojan zorrumbaLa Rioja · Play / practical
  8. Ciudad Rodrigo slate zumbaderaTierra de Ciudad Rodrigo / Salamanca · Play / practical
  9. El Valle cave zumbaderac. 13,000–9500 BC · Cantabria / Rasines; Upper Magdalenian level · Function not recorded
  10. Tito Bustillo rib spatulac. 15,800–15,400 BC · Asturias / Ribadesella / Ardines · Function not recorded
  11. El Cierro perforated plaquec. 18,000–16,500 BC · Asturias / Ribadesella / Fresno (Fresnu) · Function not recorded
  12. El Juyo fusiform bone fragmentc. 15,450–13,920 BC · El Juyo Cave / Cantabria · Function not recorded
  13. El Pendo Magdalenian bramaderac. 15,000–9000 BC · Cueva de El Pendo, Cantabria; Magdalenian attribution debated within the corpus · Function not recorded
  14. La Paloma cave Magdalenian bramaderac. 15,000–12,000 BC · Asturias / Soto de Las Regueras; Middle Magdalenian · Function not recorded
  15. León zumbador (bramadera)Leon / Castilla y Leon · Play / practical
  16. Llonín bone plaquec. 15,000–12,000 BC · Llonín Cave / Asturias · Function not recorded
  17. Navarre-Basque-Aragon brunzidorNavarre / Basque Country / Aragon · Play / practical
  18. Roncal Valley shepherdsEastern Navarre pastoral · Play / practical
  19. Extremaduran zumbaeraExtremadura / Ahigal, Cáceres · Function not recorded
  20. Burgos–Santander rutaderaProvinces of Burgos and Santander / Cantabria · Function not recorded
  21. Molina zorrumbaSeñorío de Molina / Guadalajara · Play / practical

Sweden 3

  1. Luleå River Sámi Biei've Niila bull-roarer cave narrativeBASSEUK'SA / GANIIUK'SA, Small Lule River / Tarrekaise sacred-site narrative · Sacred / spirit
  2. Lund Helgonabacken bone vinareUndated · Lund / Skåne · Play / practical
  3. Scania Sweden bat-attracting bullroarer magicScania / Skåne · Sacred / spirit

Sweden / Norway (Finnskogen belt) 1

  1. Forest Finn seäntikku toyVärmland–Hedmark Finnskogen (Forest Finn settlement belt) · Play / practical

Switzerland 2

  1. Basel (Switzerland) fair bull-roarerBasel, Switzerland · Play / practical
  2. Swiss firlifurli / Schnurre, Ticino nameTicino / Switzerland-wide folk tradition · Play / practical

Ukraine 3

  1. Bzowica 'airplane game' bullroarerTernopil oblast / former Tarnopol voivodeship · Play / practical
  2. Ukraine's phantom oldest bullroarerc. 17,000 BC · Ukraine, site not specified by Gregor · Function not recorded
  3. Ukrainian furkalo garden roarer (Volyn)Volyn / Kovel · Play / practical

United Kingdom 28

  1. Balham boy-made bullroarerBalham, Surrey (now London) · Play / practical
  2. North-east Ireland boomer bullroarerNorth-east Ireland · Play / practical
  3. East Derbyshire bummer bullroarerEast Derbyshire / England · Play / practical
  4. English country-boys bullroarer toyEngland · Play / practical
  5. English folk bullroarer, Suffolk (Lovett collection, NMAH)Suffolk, England · Play / practical
  6. Ashdown Forest English Hummer bullroarerEast Sussex / Ashdown Forest · Play / practical
  7. Bedford whizzing-stick bullroarerBedfordshire / Bedford · Play / practical
  8. Bristol carved bullroarerBristol · Play / practical
  9. Chichester Whizzing blade bullroarer pairWest Sussex / Chichester · Play / practical
  10. Clanfield serrated bullroarerOxfordshire / Clanfield · Play / practical
  11. Duxford Cambridgeshire serrated bullroarerCambridgeshire / Duxford · Play / practical
  12. Hemsby Norfolk Buzzer bullroarerNorfolk / Hemsby · Play / practical
  13. Ickleton Cambridgeshire Buzzer bullroarerCambridgeshire / Ickleton · Play / practical
  14. Needingworth Roaring bull bullroarerCambridgeshire / Needingworth · Play / practical
  15. St Paul's Parish Norwich Buzzer bullroarersNorfolk / Norwich / St Paul's Parish · Play / practical
  16. Nottingham notched bullroarerNottinghamshire / Nottingham · Play / practical
  17. Otterbourne copper bullroarerHampshire / Otterbourne near Winchester · Function not recorded
  18. Oxfordshire blade-and-stick pairOxfordshire, England · Play / practical
  19. St Ives bullroarer and Buzzer pairCambridgeshire / St Ives · Play / practical
  20. Tewkesbury whizzing stick bullroarerGloucestershire / Tewkesbury · Play / practical
  21. Woodbastwick Norfolk bullroarerNorfolk / Woodbastwick · Play / practical
  22. Cambridgeshire cattle-driving bullroarerCambridgeshire / Gamlingay or Over · Play / practical
  23. Glenviggan thunder-spadec. 200 BC–AD 65 · Glenviggan townland, Six Towns, Co. Londonderry, Northern Ireland · Function not recorded
  24. Montgomeryshire Wales remembered roarerMontgomeryshire / Wales · Play / practical
  25. Pin Hole Cave's mistaken bull-roarerc. 32,000–20,000 BC · Creswell Crags / Derbyshire · Function not recorded
  26. Scotland thunder-spell bullroarerScotland · Weather / fertility magic
  27. Thunner-spehl, whirled against thunderboltsScotland · Weather / fertility magic
  28. Torksey bone roarerc. AD 800–1000 · Torksey Viking Camp / Lincolnshire · Function not recorded

United Kingdom (Scotland) 1

  1. Argyllshire srannairArgyllshire (W Highlands); also seen in use in Edinburgh · Play / practical