Notched Butterfly Bannerstones in the Ohio Area

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Notched Butterfly

Bannerstones

in the Ohio Area

Jonathan E. Bowen, Ph.D.

[email protected]

March 2015

mailto:[email protected]

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Introduction

Notched Butterfly Bannerstones (Knoblock 1939) were

manufactured and used sometime around 4500-3500 BC

(Lutz 2000). Distributed from the Mississippi River east to the

Hudson River, from Green Bay south to the Ohio River,

nearly all are made of banded slate. Most weigh between 70 and

200 grams. Regardless of weight, the hole drilled to apparently

receive a shaft is almost always 10 to 12 millimeters in diameter.

One popular hypothesis is that they were attached to the shafts

of spear launchers (atlatls), perhaps special ones reserved for

ritual use (see Converse 2003: 82).

Ohio Notched Butterfly Database

As of March 2015 a total of 301 Notched Butterfly Bannerstones

from Ohio with at least relatively precise proveniences have

been entered into a database, which is appended to the end of

this paper. The entries for square mile section number,

Universal Transverse Mercator coordinates, and person

providing the data are omitted from this on-line version.

Locational data to township and landform only are included. The

complete database, which is suitable for Geographic Information

System (GIS) analyses, is available to researchers upon request.

These data were obtained through an examination of the Ohio

Archaeological Inventory, the Ohio Archaeologist (1951-2015),

the Central States Archaeological Journal, the

Redskin/Artifacts/Prehistoric American, as well as Knoblock

(1939) and Lutz (2000). I have also been seeking out and

recording Notched Butterfly Bannerstones for the past four

decades.

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Distribution Maps

All Ohio area Notched Butterfly Bannerstones with locational

data known to the township level or better are plotted in Figure

1.

Three archaeological sites in Ohio (33HR111 on the Scioto

River, 33SE1 on the Sandusky River, and Wellington East on

Wellington Creek) have yielded numerous failed preforms as

well as many completed Notched Butterfly Bannerstones. The

locations of these “workshops” is shown in Figure 2. All

preforms from the Ohio area are plotted on the map in Figure 3.

Some Notched Butterfly Bannerstones were broken along the

medial axis, at the perforation. Often they were repaired by

having small holes drilled in each wing so that they could be

bound back together with cordage or sinew.

Figure 4 shows Notched Butterflies with such repair drilling.

These repaired specimens are plotted on the map in Figure 5.

More Notched Butterfly Bannerstones have been recovered from

the State of Ohio than any other single type of bannerstone.

They are also the only type for which production sites with

numerous preforms are known. None have been found with

human remains. It is unknown how they were used or how they

entered the archaeological record (loss, discard, ritual

deposition?).

The Ohio Notched Butterfly Bannerstone database is an ongoing

project with specimens being added as the information becomes

available. Please contact the author for updates.

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References Cited

Converse, Robert N.

2003 The Archaeology of Ohio. Archaeological

Society of Ohio, Columbus.

Knoblock, Byron W.

1939 Bannerstones of the North American Indian.

Published by the author, Lagrange, Illinois.

Lutz, David. L.

2000 The Archaic Bannerstone. Published by the

Author, Newburgh, Indiana.

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Fig. 1 - Distribution of Notched Butterfly Bannerstones

in the Ohio Area

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Fig. 2 - Locations of Notched Butterfly Bannerstone

“Workshop” Sites in the Ohio Area

111 - 33HR111; 1 - 33SE1; W - Wellington East

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Fig. 3 - Distribution of Notched Butterfly Bannerstone

Preforms in the Ohio Area

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Fig. 4 - Notched Butterfly Bannerstone with Repair

Perforation

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Fig. 5 - Distribution of Notched Butterfly Bannerstones in

The Ohio Area with Repair Perforations

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OHBF state repair county township physical setting description

1 finished no Sandusky Riley east side Sandusky River

2 finished no Sandusky Riley east side South Creek

3 finished no Sandusky Riley west side Yellow Swale

4 finished no Sandusky Washington Muddy Creek vicinity

5 finished yes Sandusky Sandusky west side Little Muddy Creek

6 finished yes Sandusky Washington south side Gries Ditch near Muddy Creek

7 finished no Sandusky Washington Muskellunge Creek vicinity

8 finished no Sandusky Sandusky bluff east side Sandusky River

9 finished no Sandusky Sandusky bluff east side Sandusky River

10 finished no Sandusky Ballville bluff southwest side Sandusky River

11 finished no Seneca Pleasant bluff east side Sandusky River

12 finished no Seneca Pleasant Spicer Run upland just east Sandusky R

13 finished yes Seneca Clinton head ravine east side Sandusky River

14 finished no Seneca Pleasant botomland west side Sandusky River

15 finished no Seneca Clinton bluff west side Sandusky River

16 finished no Seneca Clinton head ravine west side Sandusky River

17 finished yes Seneca Clinton head ravine to Sandusky R

18 preform xxxx Seneca Clinton terrace east side Sandusky River












30 finished no Seneca Clinton terrace east side Sandusky River


32 finished yes Seneca Clinton terrace east side Sandusky River

33 finished no Seneca Clinton Morrison Creek vicinity


35 finished no Seneca Seneca east side Bells Run near Sandusky River

36 finished no Seneca Seneca bottomland west of Sandusky R

37 finished no Seneca Seneca Sandusky River vicinity

38 finished no Seneca Seneca a complex area with ravines



41 finished yes Seneca Seneca a complex area with ravines

42 finished yes Seneca Eden bottomland west side Honey Creek

43 preform xxxx Seneca Seneca near Middle Branch of East Branch Wolf Creek

44 preform xxxx Seneca Seneca near Middle Branch of East Branch Wolf Creek

45 finished no Seneca Thompson north side Royer Ditch

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46 finished no Seneca Thompson Sandusky River drainage and Huron River divide

47 finished no Seneca Reed near former bog in upper Frink Run drainage

48 finished yes Seneca Venice Honey Creek vicinity

49 finished yes Wyandot Tymochtee Sycamore Creek and Sandusky R confluence

50 finished no Wyandot Sycamore near Sycamore Creek

51 preform xxxx Wyandot Crawford south side Tymochtee Creek

52 finished no Wyandot Tymochtee lower Tymochtee Creek vicinity

53 finished no Wyandot Richland upper Baughman Run

54 finished yes Wyandot Salem near Tymochtee Creek

55 finished no Wyandot Crane terrace west side Sandusky River

56 finished no Wyandot Crane terrace west side Sandusky River

57 finished no Wyandot Eden near head of Negro Run tributary

58 finished no Wyandot Crane near head of Veith Ditch

59 preform xxxx Wyandot Crane Reber's Bottom along the Sandusky River

60 preform xxxx Wyandot Crane near ravine to west side Sandusky River

61 preform xxxx Wyandot Crane near ravine to west side Sandusky River

62 preform xxxx Wyandot Crane bluff east side Sandusky River

63 preform xxxx Wyandot Pitt Sandusky River vicinity

64 preform xxxx Wyandot Mifflin east side Tymochtee Creek

65 preform xxxx Wyandot Antrim Sandusky River and Gray Eye Run confluence

66 preform xxxx Wyandot Antrim Sandusky River and Gray Eye Run confluence

67 finished no Wyandot Marseilles east side Tymochtee Creek

68 finished no Wyandot Pitt between Sandusky R and Little Sandusky R

69 finished no Marion Salt Rock east side Little Sandusky River

70 finished no Marion Grand Prairie Little Scioto River near foot of Brush Ridge

71 finished no Marion Grand Prairie Little Scioto River vicinity

72 preform xxxx Hardin Pleasant terrace north side Scioto River















87 preform xxxx Hardin Jackson head of Blanchard River tributary

88 finished no Hardin Jackson high ground east side Blanchard River



91 finished no Hardin Cessna north side Scioto River

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92 finished yes Hardin Pleasant north side Scioto River

93 finished no Hardin Buck south side Scioto River

94 finished no Hardin Hale Upper Panther Creek or Wildcat Creek area

95 finished no Hardin Roundhead north side Scioto River

96 finished no Hardin Roundhead Great Miami R and Scioto R drainage divide

97 finished no Hancock Union east side Ottawa Creek

98 finished no Hancock Eagle west side Eagle Creek

99 finished no Hancock Van Buren headwaters Riley Creek

100 finished no Hancock Eagle west side Eagle Creek

101 preform xxxx Hancock Blanchard north side Blanchard River

102 finished no Hancock Blanchard north side Blanchard River

103 finished no Hancock Big Lick edge of The Outlet swamp

104 finished no Hancock Pleasant head of Rader Cr overlooking the Black Swamp

105 finished yes Hancock Portage Rocky Ford tributary overlooking Black Swamp

106 preform nx Hancock Portage edge of high ground overlooking Black Swamp

107 finished no Hancock Allen north side Rocky Ford Creek

108 finished no Hancock Allen foot of high ground at edge of Black Swamp

109 finished no Hancock Allen foot of high ground at edge of Black Swamp

110 preform xxxx Hancock Cass high ground overlooking Black Swamp

111 finished no Ottawa Benton high ground south side Toussaint Creek

112 finished yes Ottawa Salem north side of Portage River

113 finished no Huron New London headwaters East Branch Vermilion River



116 preform xxxx Huron Richmond high ground near north edge of Willard Marsh












128 finished no Huron Norwich head trib of West Br Huron R

129 finished no Huron Norwich head of trib of West Br Huron R

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130 finished no Huron Richmond north edge of Willard Marsh area

131 finished no Huron Fairfield between E Br and W Br Huron R

132 finished no Huron Greenfield West Branch Huron River vicinity

133 finished no Huron Lyme along Megginson Creek

134 finished no Huron Lyme overlooking lake plain at very head of Pipe Cr

135 finished no Huron Lyme overlooking lake plain at very head of Pipe Cr

136 finished no Huron Townsend head of Huron River tributary

137 finished no Erie Margaretta west side Little Pickerel Creek

138 finished no Erie Perkins east side Mills Creek

139 finished no Erie Sandusky east side Pipe Creek near mouth

140 finished no Erie Huron east Dildine Ditch, shoreline Sandusky Bay

141 finished no Erie Huron west side Sawmill Creek near mouth

142 finished no Erie Berlin head of ravine into east side of Huron River

143 finished no Erie Berlin Berlin Heights at head of Old Woman Creek trib

144 finished no Erie Berlin Berlin Heights west side of Old Woman Creek

145 finished no Erie Berlin Berlin Heights east side of Old Woman Creek

146 finished no Erie Berlin Berlin Heights east side of Old Woman Cr

147 finished no Erie Berlin along Old Woman Creek on the Berlin Heights

148 finished no Erie Berlin on the Berlin Heights

149 finished no Erie Berlin Old Woman Creek trib up on the Berlin Heights

150 finished no Erie Berlin trib of Old Woman Cr, on the Berlin Heights

151 finished no Erie Florence vicinity of head of small Old Woman Creek trib

152 finished no Erie Florence northeast side Chappel Creek

153 finished no Erie Berlin along Chappel Creek on the Berlin Heights

154 finished no Erie Berlin east side Chappel Creek on the Berlin Heights

155 finished no Lorain Penfield near the East Branch Black River

156 finished yes Medina Harrisville near the northern edge of the Killbuck Marsh

157 finished no Medina Harrisville near the northern edge of the Killbuck Marsh




161 finished yes Medina Harrisville within the Killbuck Marsh

162 finished no Allen Jackson extreme upper Ottawa River vicinity

163 finished no Allen Jackson near Huber Ditch in Sugar Creek headwaters

164 finished no Shelby Dinsmore north side Loramie Creek near head



167 finished no Logan Bloomfield Great Miami River area

168 finished no Logan Rush Creek Rush Creek area



171 finished no Erie Oxford bluff north side West Branch Huron River

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172 finished no Union Claibourne Fulton Creek area

173 finished no Union Claibourne Fulton Creek area

174 finished no Union Claibourne near Fulton Creek

175 preform xxxx Putnam Blanchard south side Blanchard River

176 finished yes Henry Damascus bottomland south side Maumee River

177 finished no Wood Henry near Rocky Ford Creek

178 finished no Wood Weston near head of small Beaver Creek tribs

179 finished no Wood Plain between Tontogany Cr and W Br Tontogany Cr

180 finished no Wood Freedom between Portage R and North Br Portage R

181 finished yes Wood Webster north side North Branch Portage River

182 finished no Wood Troy north side Toussaint Creek

183 finished no Lucas Providence Harris Ditch and Scherer Ditch confluence

184 finished no Delaware Orange bluff east side Alum Creek

185 finished no Delaware Genoa east side Big Walnut Creek

186 finished no Defiance Noble Tiffin River vicinity

187 preform xxxx Erie Milan Huron River area

188 preform xxxx Erie Milan Huron River area

189 finished no Adams Bratton along Ohio Brush Creek

190 finished no Adams Bratton along Ohio Brush Creek

191 finished no Highland White Oak East Fork White Oak Creek tributary

192 finished no Auglaize Noble Ankerman Creek vicinity

193 finished no Hamilton Crosby ancient valley of Dry Fork of the Whitewater R




197 preform xxxx Crawford Liberty near the Sulphur Springs

198 preform xxxx Crawford Liberty near the Sulphur Springs

199 finished no Crawford Liberty near the Sulphur Springs




203 preform xxxx Richland Sharon Sandusky R and Black Fork Mohican R divide

204 preform xxxx Richland Sharon Sandusky R and Black Fork Mohican R divide

205 finished no Preble Washington near very small tributary of Sevenmile Creek

206 preform xxxx Fairfield Amanda higher ground at edge of Muddy Prairie

207 finished no Lucas Richfield along Gowman Ditch

208 finished no Richland Monroe along Switzer Creek

209 finished no Ashland Green east side Black Fork Mohican River

210 finished no Ashland Orange head of broad valley of Jerome Fork Mohican R

211 finished no Montgomery Perry upper Bear Creek area

212 finished no Preble Twin upper Twin Creek area

213 finished no Delaware Brown Alum Creek area

214 finished no Seneca pending pending

215 finished no Geauga Thompson perhaps upland south of Grand River

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216 finished no Seneca Eden vicinity of small Honey Creek tributary

217 finished no Crawford Bucyrus general Sandusky River area

218 finished no Preble Harrison upper Twin Creek area

219 finished yes Allen Shawnee upper portion small tributary to Ottawa R

220 finished yes Franklin Plain Rocky Fork Creek or Blacklick Creek area

221 finished no Preble Monroe Goose Creek headwaters vicinity

222 finished no Darke pending pending

223 finished no Augaize St Marys Kopp Creek area

224 finished no Wyandot Salem Blake Ditch vicinity just west of Tymochtee Cr

225 finished no Union Leesburg near Bokes Creek

226 finished no Van Wert Pleasant Town Creek area

227 finished no Richland unknown upper Black Fork Mohican River

228 finished no Franklin Washington general Scioto River area

229 finished no Darke Allen Wabash River headwaters area

230 finished no Richland Cass Black Fork Mohican River vicinity

231 finished no Delaware Liberty area between Scioto R and Olentangy R

232 finished no Warren Washington Little Miami River area

233 finished no Darke Wayne SwampCreek area

234 preform xxxx Darke Brown along Stillwater River

235 finished no Sandusky Ballville along Bark Creek



238 finished no Pickaway Scioto along the Scioto River

239 finished no Wyandot Crawford Poverty Run vicinity

240 finished no Sandusky prending Sandusky River vicinity

241 finished no Henry Flat Rock blufftop at head of ravine to Maumee R

242 finished yes Licking Union upper portion of small Buckeye Lake trib

243 finished no Fairfield pending high ground just south of Buckeye Lake

244 preform xxxx Ashland Clear Creek Savannah Lakes vicinity

245 finished no Richland Blooming Grove adjacent to Ganges Swamp

246 finished no Licking Licking vicinity of Dutch Fork

247 preform xxxx Perry Thorn Thorn Township

248 finished yes Licking Lima Muddy Fork

249 finished yes Franklin Perry tiny tributary on blufftop east side Scioto R

250 preform no Darke Greenville includes eastward flowing Greenville Creek

251 finished no Union Bokes Creek Bokes Creek headwaters

252 finished no Allen Marion small tributaries west of Jennnings Creek

253 finished no Marion Pleasant Scioto River and Olentangy River divide area

254 preform xxxx Crawford Polk Olentangy River vicinity

255 finished no Ashland Milton just to east of Black Fork Mohican River

256 finished yes Stark Perry Tuscarawas River vicinity

257 finished yes Wood Middleton bluftop southeast side Maumee River

258 finished yes Lucas Springfield head of ravine on blufftop north side Swan Cr

259 finished no Ross Liberty bottomland east side Scioto River

260 finished no Ross Liberty terrace east side Scioto River

261 finished no Ross Twin bottomland south side Paint Creek

262 finished no Ross Twin bottomland south side Paint Creek

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263 finished yes Pickaway pending bottomland of Big Darby Creek

264 finished no Ross Liberty floodplain or terrace east side Scioto River

265 preform xxxx Clark Springfield bluff on northwest side Mad River

266 finished no Delaware Scioto along Scioto River

267 finished no Richland Jackson headwaters Black Fork Mohican River

268 finished no Knox Howard confluence of Jelloway Creek with the Kokosing

269 finished yes Auglaize Moulton high ground west side Pusheta Creek

270 finished no Allen Auglaize just west of Scioto Marsh

271 finished no Shelby McLean Mile Creek and Loramie Creek confluence

272 finished no Ashland Mohican along Oldtown Run

273 finished no Knox College Kokosing River vicinity

274 finished yes Knox Miller Delano Run near headwaters

275 preform xxxx Union Union slopes just off Little Darby Cr

276 finished no Sandusky Riley east side Pickerel Creek

277 preform xxxx Erie Groton karst area

278 finished no Trumbull Southington head of Dead Branch Grand River

279 finished no Seneca Clinton west side Gibson Creek

280 finished no Allen unknown Ottawa River area

281 finished no Richland Madison Rocky Fork Mohican River area

282 finished no Paulding Washington Auglaize River terrace







289 finished yes Paulding Washington Auglaize River terrace



292 finished yes Guernsey Wheeling hilltop overlooking Wills Creek and Birds Run

293 finished no Guernsey Wheeling hilltop overlooking Wills Creek and Birds Run

294 finished yes Pickaway Deer Creek Deer Creek vicinity

295 finished no Ashland Mifflin pending

296 finished yes Lorain Wellington Wellington Creek vicinity






Notched Butterfly Bannerstones in the Ohio Area

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