For decades it has been surmised that the bannerstone is a counter-balance weight that was placed at the center of the atlatl shaft to improve the optimum ability of the weapon. Another line of thought is that more elaborate bannerstones were places on the ends of staffs to designate status or tribal affiliation. The documentation that has previous been published about bannerstones leads one to conclude the bannerstone was in fact associated with the atl-atl spear thrower. Yet, when looking at some of the more ornate bannerstones, questions arise as to the possibility that such pieces could stand the torque generated by the thrower during daily use. Another valid question has always been, why put so much time and energy into making such an elaborate component part, when its use was purely utilitarian? Thus, the question remains - was the bannerstone a component part of a functional atlatl weapon, or was it manufactured with an intended use of being a part of a ceremony or burial ritual? Several examples of the more ornately designed double crescents and notched ovates were drilled in such a way that a shaft placed through the perforation would not be able to be inserted completely though both sides of the outer notches, leading one to believe these were either never attached to a shaft, or the bannerstone was simply placed on the end of the shaft which acted as a staff.

More than one previous author has addressed the fact that many of the styles of bannerstones that are found simply would not hold up to the stress of daily use. This leads one to surmise such items were designed and manufactured purely for ceremonial use. Without the benefit of a written history, we can only speculate at the exact nature of the ancient ceremonies that took place, as well as the nature of the spiritual beliefs of the people who lived in ancient times. We do know from archaeological excavations that during the archaic time period when bannerstones were being manufactured, ancient man did place “grave goods” in the burials of the deceased. And it has also been well

Documented (especially by Lutz) that bannerstones have been excavated in association with burials leaving a person hard pressed to deny that bannerstones did in fact have a ceremonial significance. But did all bannerstones have such a significance? There in lays the question at the heart of the bannerstone debate - where all styles purely ceremonial? Were all styles utilitarian? Were some component atl-atl parts while others were ceremonial in nature?

When studying mortuary practices of ancient cultures around the world, one of the most common traits associated with the burial of the departed is the placement of various objects in the grave. Some of the more documented ancient cultures in various corners of the world left a written record which more clearly explains that such goods were there to assist the deceased with their journey into the next world. The sacrificing of servants being the most extreme example of the belief that things from this world could be taken into the next. Yet, simply because one culture in one time period in one part of the world held such a belief, certainly does not mean that all goods placed in graves in all time periods in all parts of the world held similar beliefs. The fact is, that as of the writing of this book, the placement of grave goods with the deceased continues as an everyday occurrence in the United States. From golf tees to favorite books to even Indian artifacts, objects are quite frequently placed along with the deceased before interment. None of which are done for use in the “next life”, but rather as a part of a ritualistic goodbye done more to assist the mourners cope with the death of a loved one than for any other reason. The point is, not every thing that is found, excavated, uncovered or studied has to have a deeper significance. Often, we as travelers in the twenty-first century have to content ourselves with the fact that there are simply certain aspects of the past that will never be known to us. The intricacies of ancient ceremonies and spiritual beliefs being one of those aspects. True, it is fun to hypothesize and theorize, and often with much study and observation of the artifacts and their insitu associations very valid arguments can be made - but the bottom line fact is, there is no way to turn such arguments into factual conclusions in many circumstances. In the year 2450 AD the golf tees that were found in a casket buried in 2010 were not placed there to assist the deceased with his game in the next world. They were there because the deceased liked to golf. The box of Winchester anniversary edition 12 gauge shotgun shells were not placed there to assist with future hunts in the next life, they were placed there because when he couldn’t golf in the winter, the deceased loved to go duck hunting.