REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I916 169 



its use as a spindle whorl for fire-making and drilling. In our 

 experiments 1 we used nearly every type of banner stone with 

 equal success and all forms of drilling were used, including the 

 pull string, strap, bow and pump. The thin-winged forms were 

 especially efficient, the air resistance giving weight and steadiness 

 to the rotating shaft. This is so apparent that a pump drill worked 

 on a smooth surface, in conjunction with a banner stone used as a 

 fly-wheel, keeps the shaft rotating upon one point (see plate 4). 



The value of the banner stone used upon a spindle must have 

 been apparent to the banner stone maker. A simple twist of the 

 spindle would reveal its possibility as a whorl and with this dis- 

 covery its use would be suggested. We can. hardly see how the 

 aborigine of the polished stone age who made banner stones could 

 have neglected to employ the banner stone as our experiments 

 suggest. 



This subject leads us to inquire into the prototype of the banner 

 stone and to discover the reason for its various forms. The wings 

 of the artifact suggest in some ways the wings of a flying bird, 

 other forms suggest the ears of an animal sewed together or winged 

 seed pods, or winged insects, while still others plainly represent 

 horns. The centrum, by its one grooved side, suggests an original 

 tube of cane from which wings expanded. Our knowledge of the 

 Indian's veneration for the thunder bird and indeed his regard for 

 the assumed magical qualities of birds, suggests the possibility that 

 the banner stone wings were the heavy portions of an effigy designed 

 to represent a bird, which was fastened to the spindle or shaft. 

 The horned type of banner stone might represent the horns of a 

 buffalo or some mythical monster that was believed to emit fire 

 or to symbolize power. The horned type of banner stone in a 

 considerable number of specimens has upon the surface at the cen- 

 trum certain cross-hatched or incised projections which suggest, 

 to the writer at least, an attempt to represent horns laced, sewed 

 or tied together. Any student of Indian mythology will quickly 

 recall the many legends of horned monsters, especially serpents. 



Among the uses of the banner stone heretofore suggested is the 

 theory advanced by Frank H. Cushing, which describes the banner 

 stone as used on the stem of a calumet to prevent it from tipping 

 over when placed upon the ground. Within our experience, we 

 have not seen banner stones associated closely with pipes, although 

 platform pipes are sometimes found on the sites yielding banner 



1 Experiments conducted during December 101s and January and July 1916. 



