Materials Example 4, MMA 2011.154.13
Double Bitted Axe bannerstone, Kankakee County, Illinois, shale, 12.1 x 7.6 cm
Bannerstones carved in sedimentary rock are less commonly found in current collections. The fragility of the rock may have made it less desirable to the sculptors or less likely to remain intact over thousands of years. This Double-Bitted Axe from The Met, found in Kankakee County, Illinois, is a rare exception. Here the sculptor chose soft sedimentary shale thinning the curved edges to a millimeter in width rendering this bannerstone exceedingly fragile. Parallel to the perforation they carved a pointed edge on one side, accentuating the near perfect symmetry of the composition. The perforation is carefully drilled with a hollow reed leaving noticeable even concentric circles on the inside. Though there are a few chips on the thin edges of the stone, there is no sign of wear at the perforation. Given the unusually soft geologic material and thin flanges of this stone, this carefully sculpted bannerstone may have been intended for extraordinary purposes.