Description:

Native American, found in Adams County, Michigan, USA, Late Archaic Period, ca. 3000 to 1000 BCE. A fine example of a prismatic bannerstone, a weight for an atlatl, triangular in cross section, and pierced laterally for suspension. It is made from a black-grained red granitic stone and polished to have smooth faces. 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. Later experimental archaeology proved that this was not true - but did open up the possibility that the bannerstone helped with fatigue when holding an atlatl still while stalking skittish prey like deer. Size: 2.5" W x 2.25" H (6.4 cm x 5.7 cm)

Provenance: private Minnesota, USA collection, authenticated by Calvin Howard in 2005 and acquired prior to that

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#150455

  • Condition: Light wear on surface commensurate with age, including a few small chips from around the opening at center. Rich patina on surface. Old collection label on long side.

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May 21, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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