~ Gilchrist Co. Florida ~ Shuttle Shaped Bannerstone ~

Length: 2 1/8"

Grade: 10

Description: This bannerstone, found in Gilchrist County, Florida, near the Santa Fe River Basin, is made of dense banded greenstone with an gray tone. Its shuttle shape form features a central perforation and symmetrical tapering ends, showing skilled grinding and shaping. The workmanship reflects the durable and balanced style typical of Middle Archaic period bannerstones from the Tennessee River Valley region.

These were used as a counter weight to balance the spear launching apperatus called an Atlatl. These were permantly affixed to the launching stick and would allow the hunter to have the spear in a cocked and ready to throw position for a long time without arm muscle fatigue. Tremendous amount of labor went into the manufacture of this piece. It would have been core drilled by hand, using a reed and very tiny bits of chert flakes. Constant and continuous spinning of the reed or river cane for untold hours to create this long drilled out hole. Then in its final stages it was pecked and ground and polished to a smooth finish.

Provenance: Found many years ago on private property with permission near the Santa Fe River basin, Gilchrist Co. Florida. From an old cabineted collection.