🥇 BANNER Banner? Bannerstone yes :)

[scuba1970]

Have found many broken ones but was not expecting this. We've had a lot rain and went out to a site that I've found archaic thru hopewell items on one half and this was washed out in gravel. Wasn't where I would have expected either. Was in an area where an old house site sat. I usually metal detect that area and had walked over to it to see if any marbles or bottle tops had washed out. Glad I did, next rain may have washed it into ditch.

 

[s.tan]

It's fantastic and I love it, but still don't know what it is! Please? You guys are killing me here.

Like you, I didn't know what a bannerstone was but here's what I found out.

"Archaeologists have agonized for a long time over the use of banner stones. Some have offered that they are atlatl weights or ceremonial pieces. Others have suggested that they are for drilling, cordage making, or fire making. Robert S. Berg’s theory proposed that they are part of a kit of tools used to make and repair atlatl darts. Berg’s theory has met with a lot of skepticism and resistance because of the previous works of William S. Webb, who proposed that the bannerstone was actually part of an atlatl. "

Regardless of its function, it is a beautiful artifact!

 

[silversurfer1111]

wow sweet atlatl weight.. Im getting a banner just looking at it lol....one of the best i have ever seen ..banner !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rock]

Once in a lifetime find if you are lucky enough, banner

 

[Argentium]

Please excuse my ignorance too - but what are we looking at here ?? I read the part about hand made by Native Americans , but
does everybody just know what this is and what it's function was ?

 

[welsbury]

A piece that fine deserves recognition.

 

[Gary1963]

Congratulations

 

[Americus]

That is a killer find. I know you were on cloud nine! In what part of the country did you find it?

 

[scuba1970]

Thanks guys Found in IL close to St Louis MO. I can't put down and been carrying around basically since found. I've been lucky and found quite a few broken ones, one unfinished one and one other complete that was whole but sold it a few years ago. Have always dreamed of finding a quartz one.

 

[ClovisOak]

Beautiful piece, could always put it back in some wet dirt to get the color back and then let me know the GPS coordinates. Just kidding I always feel that a flint artifact find is always prettiest when it first comes out of the dirt and feel that it is more accurate to what it looked like when it was first found. Looking at the pictures again it looks like it might have some tally marks or indentations along the ridge. Almost looks like a spinal column. Find some more!

 

[Michiganne]

Congrats on a fantastic find! Glad it made the banner.

HH

 

[oakhunter27]

One in a lifetime find nice bannerstone

Sent from my SCH-S738C using TreasureNet in the middle of a field somewhere

 

[okerraine]

Very nice. Congratulations!

 

[DocBeav]

Great Find! Congrats on Banner!

Spear-thrower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Precision Atlatl & Dart Systems - Atlatl.com - Atlatl Bob - Maker of Authentic Atlatl Systems

 

[catherine1]

Nice Bannerstone. Have yet find one. Lifetime find in that condition. Thanks for the PICS!

 

[scuba1970]

Thanks again guys. Got a question, I've had points change color too once dried out and have always left as is but is there anything can do besides store in water to make bright again? Maybe oil? Don't get me wrong one of my best pieces EVER but it went from being beautiful amber to dull. All other quartz I look at online are bright and shiny.

 

[Tnmountains]

That dull is the patina of age. I would leave it be. You got great in situ pictures and can always wet it when you want to show it. But I would not put anything not natural on it. Very nice find on a pretty uncommon hunting tool.
Congratulations.

 

[AnnieF]

Okay, I clicked both links in post #33 and I'm only SORT of sure what I'm looking at here: is it the thing you slide the "arrow" through to "aim" it using some sort of "string/spring" mechanism attached to it?

I'm confused! And it's a big deal because... they all break? Unlike arrowheads?

Help a newbie to this, please, suppressing as much snark as possible if you can

 

[GaRebel1861]

Outstanding find!!

 

[Ole # 7]

Does anyone know if things like this are found in Michigan? I'd LOVE to find something like that!!!

 

[jamey]

id say they are ole#7,you may find one made of copper.