Prehistoric Bannerstone

Description:	Archaeologists disagree about who carved stones like this one, generally called bannerstones, as well as what these stones were used for by prehistoric Native Americans. Some believe they were made for creating rope, starting a fire or as drilling tools. Others believe they were used during special ceremonies. However, many believe that they were used as a hunting tool. Also sometimes called atl-atl weights, they may have been used as counterweights when throwing spears with an atl-atl, a stick used to hurl a spear or dart farther than the human arm is capable. This bannerstone was carved and ground from banded slate and dates to the Archaic Period which roughly falls between 8,000-800 B.C. It was originally uncovered in Jackson County, Illinois.
Source:	http://www.digitalindy.org/cdm/ref/collection/tcm/id/609
Collection:	The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Rights:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/;
Copyright:	Creative Commons (CC By-SA 3.0);
Subjects:	Paleo-Indians Paleo-Indians--Implements Indians of North America--Implements Indians of North America--Antiquities

Further information on this record can be found at its source.