A Rare North Carolina Boatstone

By Ron Harris North Carolina

Central States Archaeological Journal, volume 54, January 2007, Number1, Page 22

 Matt Parker of Forest City, North Carolina was hunting arrowheads along the “old course” of the Broad River in Rutherford County, North Carolina in the early 1990’s when he discovered a very rare boatstone. The unique boatstone is shown in the accompanying triple view photo which illustrates the bottom, top and side view. This is arguably one of the finest boatstones ever found in the state.

 When viewed from above the boatstone is elongated oval, three inches long with tally marks on each squared end. Oval suspension or attachment holes were gouged out rather than drilled near each end. The base is dished out. Gouge marks appear as “worm tracks” in the concavity. Outer surfaces are smooth and highly polished. The artifact is made of high grade brownish/black steatite.

  Artifacts of this type are called boatstones because when viewed from the side they resemble the hull of a boat. It has not been determined their exact use or purpose including “tie-on” atlatl weights, talismans or charmstones.

 None have been excavated. Why they were hollowed is a mystery. Perhaps some good luck charm was sealed within the cavity. It is postulated that boatstones were made during the Archaic to Woodland period 3000–1000 BP. They are always well made and show no signs of excessive usage; however, many are found damaged by modern farm implement contact.

 Parker had been collecting arrowheads in the region for 2 1/2 decades and had amassed a nice lithic assemblage, along with pottery shards, all from the Archaic and Woodland periods in the Blue Ridge foothills of Western North Carolina. The boatstone was discovered on the Erwin Johnson farms off Clark Road near the Rutherford-Polk County line about 4 miles east of where the dam on Broad River backs up to Lake Lure. Parker found 3 other unusual artifacts including a yellow-quartz crescent or winged Bannerstone, a schist tallied trapezoidal pendant and a “bear claw” shaped steatite pipe bowl.

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