In anthropology and archaeology, an atlatl-weight (often called a bannerstone in North America) is a stone or mineral object attached to an atlatl (spear-thrower) to modify its balance, performance, or symbolic meaning. These weights are among the most distinctive artifacts associated with atlatl technology.

🌍 Definition

• Atlatl-Weight: A shaped stone, usually drilled or grooved, affixed to the shaft of an atlatl.
• Function:
  • May have acted as a counterbalance, stabilizer, or energy enhancer when throwing darts.
  • Some scholars argue they were primarily symbolic or ceremonial rather than functional.
• Common Forms: Bannerstones (butterfly-shaped), boatstones, and other polished mineral forms.

🔑 Anthropological Contexts

• Prehistoric Technology:
  • Found in North America, especially during the Archaic Period (ca. 8000–1000 BCE).
  • Crafted from minerals like slate, quartzite, and banded slate.
• Symbolism & Ritual:
  • Many atlatl-weights are finely polished and aesthetically shaped, suggesting ritual or status functions.
  • Some may have served as prestige items, marking skilled hunters or leaders.
• Archaeological Evidence:
  • Frequently recovered from burial sites, often accompanying other hunting tools.
  • Their presence helps archaeologists identify atlatl use in a culture.
• Debates in Anthropology:
  • Functionalists argue they improved throwing mechanics.
  • Symbolists argue they were ritual or status markers, not practical hunting aids.

📚 Importance in Anthropology

• Technological Insight: Atlatl-weights highlight experimentation with tool efficiency.
• Cultural Identity: Distinctive shapes and minerals reflect group traditions and aesthetics.
• Chronology: Bannerstones are diagnostic artifacts of the Archaic Period in North America.
• Interdisciplinary Value: Connects archaeology with geology (raw materials), physics (mechanics), and anthropology (ritual meaning).

In short: An atlatl-weight is a polished stone attached to a spear-thrower, serving both functional and symbolic roles, and is a hallmark artifact of the Archaic Period in North America.