Native American Bannerstone – Pike County, Ohio

Native American Bannerstone – Pike County, Ohio

This wonderful Native American bannerstone is a symmetrical, intricately carved, and polished stone artifact produced by early Indigenous artist during the Archaic period (approximately 6000 to 1000 BCE) primarily found in eastern North America. It has a precisely drilled hole running through their center. This bannerstone represent an extraordinary level of ancient engineering, prehistoric technology, and aesthetic sophistication with meticulously sculpted balance, abstract geometric shape that is winged form (resembling birds, butterflies, or bowties). The indigenous artisan went to great lengths to source visually striking Huronia type slate that creates a marbled pattern across the body. The predominant scientific consensus is that bannerstones functioned as counterweights for an atlatl (a wooden spear-throwing stick). This bannestone is an indigenous artifact found in the Scioto River Mound, Pike County, Ohio. 3” x 3” This bannerstone is in excellent condition with great surface patina.

Provenance: Al Meyer Collection, Belleville, IL;

Floyd Ritter, Collinsville, IL;

Gordon Barlow, Swoope, VA (1977)