BANNER-STONES

of the North American Indian

By Byron W. Knoblock (1939)

Sample Group Description From Banner-stones of the North American Indian

HOURGLASS GROUP
TYPE No. 6

     The term Hour-glass has been used as a name to classify these patterns for many years. The name is quite appropriate for the design; hence there is no need to change it.
     The Hour-glass patterns occur throughout the entire Mississippi Valley extending from the lower into the upper area. The ultimate designs or types are probably the most abundant of all type patterns found within this enormous territory. Yet, these specimens which are made of beautiful ferruginous quartz material are considered by collectors as being quite rare.
     This group developed from the Southern Triangular Primary Form No. 2.  The same characteristic features of the construction of this simply designed primary form are still apparent on the blending forms and also the types, even though the general outline of these objects was changed. The most noticeable change in the design of the simpler forms is the concave side edges of the higher developed patterns.
     The blending forms occur throughout the Middle Mississippi Valley Area. They are probably most abundant in the western half of Tennessee and Kentucky. These patterns are made of various materials, usually including limonite, banded claystone, ferruginous slate, banded-slate, limestone, plain and spotted granites, and variously colored quartzites. But rarely are Hour-glass specimens found which show under-developed lines, that are made of ferruginous quartz.
     The ultimate designs or types are only made of this beautiful translucent or semi-translucent ferruginous quartz. But, occasionally, type specimens are noted which are made of red opaque quartz. It is very evident that when this design became highly developed, this material (ferruginous quartz) was adopted to add to the ceremonial significance of the Hour-glass patterns. Thus, by noting those made of this material one can easily separate the blending forms from the types.

Plate 137.
Cross-sectional drawing of the patterns that comprise the Hourglass Group, arranged in a sequence to illustrate their construction and evolution of design.

The accompanying plates show a large number of variations that comprise this group. These plates include many underdeveloped patterns which are made of many different materials and also many type specimens which are made of the adopted ferruginous quartz.
Plate 137 shows a series of cross-sectional pen-and-ink drawings which illustrate the evolution of this group. By these drawings one can note that as the design developed it became thinner in construction.
Because of the fact that the great majority of the blending forms and also the type specimens occur in the Middle Mississippi Valley Area, one can believe that this group had reached its highest development within this area. One can also believe that it was in this area that the ferruginous quartz material was finally adopted for the making of the types, to add to their ceremonial significance.
The types are usually quite thin in cross-section. The back is a slightly convex plane, and the face has two flat planes which form a ridge running parallel with the perforation.
The drilling of the perforations of the accompanying plates show a large number of variations that comprise this group. These plates include many underdeveloped patterns which are made of many different materials and also many type specimens which are made of the adopted ferruginous quartz.
Plate 137 shows a series of cross-sectional pen-and-ink drawings which illustrate the evolution of this group. By these drawings one can note that as the design developed it became thinner in construction.
Because of the fact that the great majority of the blending forms and also the type specimens occur in the Middle Mississippi Valley Area, one can believe that this group had reached its highest development within this area. One can also believe that it was in this area that the ferruginous quartz material was finally adopted for the making of the types, to add to their ceremonial significance.
The types are usually quite thin in cross-section. The back is a slightly convex plane, and the face has two flat planes which form a ridge running parallel with the perforation.
The drilling of the perforations of the ultimate designs was usually done from one end with a drill-stick of hollow-reed or bone. The great majority of those which show incompleted drilling have a protruding core.
Probably the largest and finest Hour-glass type specimen so far discovered is illustrated in Plate 136. This object is made of exceptionally beautiful translucent ferruginous quartz, and displays remarkable workmanship.
According to the writer's experiment of drilling in ferruginous quartz with a hollow reed and sand, the perforation through this banner-stone, which is four and three-fourths inches in length, required 32,769,528 grinding revolutions, 285 hours of actual drilling time, and 128-1/4 inches of cane was worn away.e ultimate designs was usually done from one end with a drill-stick of hollow-reed or bone. The great majority of those which show incompleted drilling have a protruding core.
Probably the largest and finest Hour-glass type specimen so far discovered is illustrated in Plate 136. This object is made of exceptionally beautiful translucent ferruginous quartz, and displays remarkable workmanship.
According to the writer's experiment of drilling in ferruginous quartz with a hollow reed and sand, the perforation through this banner-stone, which is four and three-fourths inches in length, required 32,769,528 grinding revolutions, 285 hours of actual drilling time, and 128-1/4 inches of cane was worn away.