<em>Butterfly Bannerstone</em>, 4000-2000 B.C.E. Stone, 3 1/8 x 1 x 4 1/2 in. (7.9 x 2.5 x 11.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, A. Augustus Healy Fund, 77.30.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 77.30.2_bw.jpg)

Butterfly Bannerstone, 4000-2000 B.C.E. Stone, 3 1/8 x 1 x 4 1/2 in. (7.9 x 2.5 x 11.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, A. Augustus Healy Fund, 77.30.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 77.30.2_bw.jpg)

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These say "eastern United States" -- any idea where exactly?

That's a good question. These Bannerstones have been identified by their style which which was common to the eastern Woodlands communities thousands of years ago. We are not sure where exactly they were found, but their style indicates that they come from the eastern United States.

Eastern woodlands means what exactly?

It's a name used by scholars to refer to the cultures living in the eastern United States thousands of years ago. Those cultures did not have writing so we do not know what they would have called themselves. These people are only known by their material culture in the archaeological record.

In the time that these people lived, the eastern United States was largely forested, so they were, in fact, living in a woodland environment.

Wouldn't these make super cool bow ties!?

They sure would! They were actually used as weights for spear-throwers by the early inhabitants of the Eastern United States.

The example on the right is the most common shape of these weights known as banner stones.

Talk about a missed style opportunity.

Perhaps they were also worn as decorative neckwear and we just don't know! The people of the Eastern Woodlands did not have written language so much of what we know about their practices is based on archaeology and material culture.

Butterfly Bannerstone

Arts of the Americas

Bannerstones

In the woodlands regions of North America, stone and quartzes were materials used extensively for ritual and utilitarian items. A bannerstone likely had a practical function as a counterweight on an atlatl, a long wooden shaft with a hooked end that was used to add power to a hunter’s arm when throwing a spear. The bannerstone’s wings may have provided balance. Bannerstones are often found far from stone sources, indicating they were part of a large trade network.

MEDIUM Stone

Place Made: Eastern, United States

DATES 4000-2000 B.C.E.

PERIOD Late Archaic Period

DIMENSIONS 3 1/8 x 1 x 4 1/2 in. (7.9 x 2.5 x 11.4 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 77.30.2

CREDIT LINE A. Augustus Healy Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Translucent bannerstone of ferruginous quartz in butterfly shape. The span of the wings is curved but overall shape slightly irregular. Round drilled hole through the core: openings at top and bottom are not entirely symmetrical with each other. There are traces of drill markings. The exterior central segment rises in a curve.

EXHIBITIONS

American Art

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Butterfly Bannerstone, 4000-2000 B.C.E. Stone, 3 1/8 x 1 x 4 1/2 in. (7.9 x 2.5 x 11.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, A. Augustus Healy Fund, 77.30.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 77.30.2_bw.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 77.30.2_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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