Patrick, your point is well made about bows being older. I agree that our modern understanding of bows and where the technology ended up is not necessarily where it started in terms of size and function. That is a new thought to me. It makes sense though. Most of what archeologists are basing their theories on is stone points. That is their limitation. They have to have material to study. it makes sense in terms of atlatl function too. Atlatls aren't exclusively the same all across the continent or the world. for example, some flex and some don't. Woomera in Australia are painfully long and stiff due to their dual use a club for dispatching game. But you wouldn't really think of a basket maker atlatl from the desert southwest in the same way.
In terms of drilled bannerstones and bar weights, sites like Indian Knoll and Chiggerville Kentucky clearly show antler atlatl hooks in direct association with bar weights and drilled bannerstones. The soil conditions permitted a rare preservation of the antler materiel which gives us precious insight. 31 of the bannerstone were found along with antler atlatl hooks at Indian Knoll alone. Archeology has its limits, but context is invaluable in terms of understanding what they were indeed associated. In the cases where the bannerstone was not broken on purpose. The hooks are very close to the bannerstone with only a few centimeters of distance between.
Just for the record i am not an archeologist. I am however an ecologist.
That is another part of the puzzle. The climate and ecosystem responses may be a factor too. We have to consider physics and physical practicality (what could they be used for?) in what culture (what did they mean to those people?) and in what environment (was the use impacted by the surroundings or the prey?)
Consider this. Bannerstone use started in the early Archaic, then grew toward the late Archaic where they started to decline until the start of the Woodland Period. Here in Missouri the Archaic period was warming up from the Ice Age. Oak/hickory forest invaded. As the Archaic progressed the climate got hotter and much drier. as a result Missouri and surround area saw a huge uptick in prairie. As the Archaic period turned into the Woodland things cooled a bit and got wetter. Oak hickory became more common again. In fact things began to look a lot like they do today.
I am just asking questions here: I assume bannerstones served some purpose to the hunter. Would a prairie be a harsher environment to make a living in? Was hunting harder? Game scarcer? Was an edge needed? If so then perhaps climate is a factor. But maybe not. These are thought exercises. I could be way off.
One last thing that I will throw in here is the cultural shift that took place between the Archaic and Woodland periods. The Archaic period was characterized by semi-nomadism (or at least a seasonal camp rotation) where a permanent settlement seldom existed. Basketry was common, they cooked with clay stones called poverty point objects to heat water, hunted, fished and gathered their food. Winters were the harshest part of the year that had to be survived. Personal belonging were limited due to travel.
The Woodland period saw the introduction of agriculture and permanent settlements. Seasonal camps existed but with a nucleus to a central settlement. A non-nomadic lifestyle permitted accumulation of goods and heavier, less sturdy items like pottery. The arts expanded and so on. Less importance was placed on hunting and gathering although they clearly continued. Winter was easier to endure due to the food surplus agriculture provides. It just meant more work than hunting and gathering. Culturally this was a huge shift in how things work. What impact did this have on hunting tools or tools of any type. There was a lot of fallout from this shift. What made the cut and what didn't? We may never fully understand.
All I know is there are too many puzzle pieces missing form me to get too dogmatic. If i come across as though I am right and everyone else i wrong, that is not my position at all. I simply want to state the picture as I see it, be open to the ideas of others and enjoy the study and discussion.
Very few people where I live would ever discuss this topic at the level we are right now. Ya'll are awesome.
