In Irish history and legend, brain balls () are small stone-like balls claimed to have been made from the heads or brains of enemies. No examples that modern analysis confirms as human have survived. Description In literature and legend In Geoffrey Keating's 17th century Foras Feasa ar Éirinn (or 'History of Ireland') in 'An Account of the Death of Connor, King of Ulster' he records the background of the tradition, and a Christianised tale relating to it. According to Keating it was the custom during the period described in the Ulster Cycle for a victorious champion to take the brains of a defeated adversary, and make a ball of them, by mixing it with lime, followed by drying in the sun - such a ball was displayed at important events. In the story told by Keating, two fools in the court of king Conchobar mac Nessa (Connor son of Ness) decided to steal such a brain ball, being from the head of Mesgegra, former king of Leinster - having stolen it the fools then began to play with it. Whilst doing so they were discovered by Cet mac Mágach of the kingdom of Connacht, he then took the brain ball from the fools. Later the provinces of Connacht and Ulster became at war, and Cet used the ball as a sling stone, wounding Connor grievously in the head - this began the fulfillment of a prophecy that Mesgegra would be revenged on Ulster after his death - King Connor's doctors advised that extreme stress of exertion might open the ball's wound and kill him, and so he lived carefully for seven years. However one day an eclipse occurred and Connor sought his druid on its cause - he was informed that the cause was the murder of Jesus by the Jews - Connor became incensed by this news, and this caused the wound to re-open, bringing about his death. Keating notes that Connor died before the death of Jesus, and gives the explanation that the druid must have prophesied Jesus's death. Archaeological evidence In Irish dolmens balls have been fairly common finds, often found in the structure's floor or lower level detritus, and often associated with bones - materials identified as forming the balls include marble (thought to be a slingshot); ironstone ; calcium carbonate; porphyry; and syenite - with sizes recorded were from approximately . Some of the balls