Archaic Mystery Stones: The Archaeology of Bannerstones

Bannerstones are a uniquely American artifact type, with a wide range of styles and materials. they first emerge in the Middle Archaic period sometime beforre 8000 years ago, and stopped being manufactured around 3500 years ago.

Referenced Videos

Further Reading :
Kenneth E. Sassaman 2010
The Eastern Archaic, Historicized, Chapter 4 AltaMira Press

Dianna L. Doucett 2005
Reflections of the Middle Archaic: A View from Annasnappet Pond

FIT Archaic Bannerstone Project, State University of New York
photo credit: Anna Blume, 2019

[briangarrow]

I was able as a young man to go arrowhead hunting with my aunt near Dayton Ohio around 50 years ago. She would walk daily through the woods and river bottom farm fields and look for arrowheads. I walked with her one time while visiting her and she found a pestel for grinding grains. I still have that pestel. I seem to recall seeing at least one of those banners tones in her collection of finds that she had at her home. Unfortunately she passed away many years ago and all the items that she found were inherited by family members who I lost touch with. At least I have an idea now about that odd looking stone item in her collection and what it may have been. As an aside, she was so prolific in her ability to find items that a local college professor invited her to walk with his class when they did some field walks during the early 70’s.

[jamebrooke]

Northern Indiana in the area of the once GRAND KANKAKEE MARSH, I've found about 7 Banded Slate Butterfly banner stones. Broken in half where they were drilled, have found a were Fluted points and so have others. Just 6 miles north of this site on State rd.39 across U.S. 30 the terrain rises high a farmer there has found Saber tooth TIGER skulls and Mammoth skulls. That's in LaPorte County.
Loved your video!!

[KhanCrete]

Seeing an example of a bannerstone from Illinois in a museum (either the Met or art institute) is one of the things that got me interested in my state's precolonial history. It made me realize that there's so much history to the area (not to mention what's now the US) that I hadn't even considered. I don't think I was taught much of anything about the area's history, despite sites like starved rock, Dickson mounds and Cahokia being nearby. I somehow didn't even know Cahokia existed until I was maybe 18.

[jeanetteteachtech]

Thank you for being so thorough with your explanations and factual descriptions of items and how they were found. I will use your videos for classes.

[toddreed]

I’ve been lucky enough to have found 2 both broken at the hole. 1 is half of a butterfly, the other is shaped in a pointed horn . Both made of beautiful banded green slate. Both from east central Illinois.

[katiehale]

Visited Southern Ohio Museum in Portsmouth Scioto County last week. They had bannerstones but had no card to say what they were. A lady archaeologist was so nice as to give us 3 possibilities of their use. The museum has very little but they have pottery circa 300 BC to 1000 that is absolutely beautiful. One of the big gallon size vessels looked like it was molded with a tight woven basket and shiny black. Not primitive looking at all. I was impressed. Also impressed that the young lady took the time to talk to us.

[fieldsandcreeks]

I live in central Ohio and I’ve only ever found small broken pieces of banner stones but I have found a full 3/4 groove axe in my 14 years of artifact hunting. Great explanation on the subject love the content

[annmariemcnary]

Was given two books today on North American and Eskimo artifacts. First things to catch my eye were the toggles/Cord attachers and the banner stones, immediately seemed to be some cross cultural connection with Japanese netsuke and sword handle guards. Neither book commented on usage. Interesting videos.

[richardnichols]

Thanks for the interesting videos, have had a life long interest in our ancient living arrangements .

[T.J-and-Soul]

Good info mate thanks for explaining your thoughts on bannerstones.

[gordondeitz]

Maryland eastern shore is a great area for Atlatal light spear points and along the costal regions specialize oyster knife blades, fish hooksand fishing net weights.Great segment!

[fredmeek]

Nice video! If you could post it, it would be interesting to see a bannerstone in situ with other atlatal parts as you describe.

[bluecrow]

Very nice knowledge, appreciate the links♠️ very handy.welcome back keep em coming, thanks

[johnholmesinchesahead]

As you are obviously a Viking, I would like to know what year you arrived in the Americas - as you have a very good grasp of contemporary (colonial) English - and a working knowledge of modern science.

[danielcarter]

I think you’re 100% correct on them being used as a power adder on the base throw stick, I came to this conclusion when I first saw them together in dig/discovery sites

[zenolachance]

Recently, I was watching another archaeology video on a fishing tribe along the Peruvian coast and they had found some stone artifacts that they had no idea what they were, no one had known for years they had found them years before, they happen to run across an old native fishing in a reed boat along the coast, and when they showed them to him he knew exactly what they were and I was wondering if you ever thought to bring these to some indigenous people in tribal areas of South America maybe they know what they are and what they were used for. The artifacts that they we're finding in Peru will used to make fishing nets and they looked like nothing you would think had anything to do with fishing nets

[markg]

That was very informative. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[burymycampaignatwoundedkne]

A few of those bannerstones reminded me of the bilobed arrow motif

[goodvibrations]

I have an ovate bannerstone that is unfinished. Its really cool!

[reesetorwad]

Fascinating! I'll watch out for them from now on.