North American, probably southeastern United States, Mississippian, Archaic Period, ca. 5000 to 1000 BCE. A pale brown sandstone "butterfly" bannerstone, a weight for an atlatl. The piece was carved and sanded to have symmetrical half-circles around a cylindrical socket. 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. However, the elaborate designs, and some examples that are too large to have ever been useful, suggest that they also had ritualistic or symbolic power. This one has a zoomorphic, possibly avian form that may have served as a talisman to protect the hunter during the dangerous business of the hunt. Size: 4.7" W x 3.45" H (11.9 cm x 8.8 cm)

Provenance: private Vaught collection, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#132077

Scratches on surface as shown in photographs; surface deposits, particularly on one side.