Native American, Midwestern United States, Indiana, White County, Eastern Woodland, Archaic period, ca. 5000 to 1000 BCE. A rare type of bannerstone made from a polished greenstone with a tubular and fluted form, the thick center is laterally drilled through to both ends. This gray-olive stone is highly polished and great care is evident in shaping this piece, and the surface is a silky-smooth texture with attractive banding patterns. Bannerstones remain an archaeological mystery. For many years, inspired by research done by a former physicist, archaeologists believed that bannerstones were used as weights to give atlatls greater power and control. However, some with more elaborate designs or larger sizes may not have been used for this purpose and may have served a ritualistic purpose. Size: 3" L x 1" W (7.6 cm x 2.5 cm)
Provenance: private Kansas City, Missouri, USA collection; ex-John Townsend collection, formed in the 1970s and earlier.
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#162014
Condition
Old chips around opening rims and a shallow abrasion to side surface, otherwise intact and very good. Find site label on surface.