Bannerstone or Boatstone?

[farmerwayne]

Not a personal find but from a good source. Any opinions would be appreciated and what were they use for?

[rmartin]

Those would be boatstones Wayne. They served the same purpose as a bannerstone, counter weights for the atlatl. Banners generally had a single hole drilled thru the middle about 3/8 of an inch in diameter. Boats were shaped as yours are and usually grooved, sometimes with a hole on each end. Here is my boatstone

[rmartin]

A bannerstone saddleback type

[rmartin]

[rmartin]

[farmerwayne]

Thanks Ray. As usual good info and some wonderful pictures. Just one more question. How would they use them for atlatl counter weights with out any holes to fasten to the shaft? Thanks again.

[rmartin]

I am sure they could just have lashed them in place. Many early atlatl weights had no holes. Bar weights found in mostly Ohio are not drilled although occasionally will have a groove in the middle.

[CMD]

Great artifacts, guys!

[Dandielyonwine]

Nice, thanks for sharing! Sandy