Bird stone, c. 1500-500 BCE
Archaic Woodlandsexpand_more
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Gift of Beverly N. Grossmanexpand_more 2001.63
Not on Viewexpand_more
This simple, abstracted bird shaped stone appears contemporary, yet was made thousands of years ago by a Native American artist in North America. Smooth and graceful, this delicate-looking Bird Stone was used as a ceremonial weight for a hunter’s atlatl (spear-throwing device). The beauty embodied in this tool may have been carved as an emblem of prestige, a marker of coming of age, a supernatural talisman or as a clan symbol in addition to its utilitarian purpose. These stones were often made from distant materials, another indicator of their importance.
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Details
- Title
- Bird stone
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2001.63
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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