This object is a Native American bannerstone, specifically carved in a winged or butterfly style. [1, 2]Key Details and PurposeWhat it is: Bannerstones are prehistoric stone artifacts crafted by indigenous peoples in North America, primarily during the Late Archaic period (approximately 6000 B.C.E. to 1000 B.C.E.). [1]Material: They were meticulously pecked, ground, and polished out of materials like slate, granite, or other river-worn stones. The piece shown features a distinct speckled texture from its stone composition. []Function: Archaeologists widely believe that these stones served as atlatl (spear-thrower) weights. They were slid onto the wooden shaft of an atlatl to act as a counterbalance, adding velocity, stability, and power when launching a spear. [1, 2]Ceremonial Value: Because many bannerstones are beautifully symmetrical, highly stylized, and show no signs of heavy wear, they likely also held significant ceremonial, social, or ritual status within ancient communities measures 4 in x 4 in x 1 in

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