Notched Ovate Bannerstones: Identification and History
The ovate bannerstone has a rounded, egg-shaped outline, and the notched ovate adds notches cut into that outline, giving the stone a distinctive, balanced profile. Notched ovates are admired for their clean symmetry, and they are found over a remarkable range, from Michigan and Ohio south to the related southern ovates of Georgia and Florida.
This guide covers how to identify a notched ovate bannerstone, the main ovate sub-types and what collectors look for. For an overview of all bannerstone forms, see Bannerstones: The Complete Guide.
What Is a Notched Ovate Bannerstone?
An ovate bannerstone has an oval or egg-shaped outline with the perforation drilled through the center. A notched ovate has notches worked into the outline, commonly at the top and bottom. On double-notched examples, such as a fine piece from south-central Michigan in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the top and bottom notches angle inward.
Ovate is one of the 24 types recognized by the Archaic Bannerstone Project, with sub-types including northern, southern and notched ovates. The system builds on Byron Knoblock's 1939 study Banner-stones of the North American Indian.
Ovate Bannerstone Sub-Types
- Notched ovate: an ovate with notches in the outline. Notched ovates are known from the Midwest, including documented examples from the Van Wert and Darke County area of Ohio.
- Double-notched ovate: an ovate with paired notches at the top and bottom.
- Northern ovate: ovate forms found in the northern part of the range.
- Southern ovate: ovate forms from the Southeast, often made of greenstone or other igneous rock. Examples are known from Georgia and Florida, and some Florida pieces are dated to roughly 6,200 to 5,200 years ago.
How to Identify a Notched Ovate Bannerstone
- Outline: rounded and egg-shaped, without the long wings of a butterfly or the curve of a crescent.
- Notches: cut into the outline, usually at the top and bottom, often symmetrical on both sides.
- Perforation: centered. Check for the fine circular striations of ancient drilling inside the hole. Some ovates were left partly drilled or undrilled.
- Material: banded slate and other stones in the north, greenstone and igneous rock in many southern ovates.
- Symmetry and finish: well-made ovates are carefully balanced and smoothly polished.
Where Are Ovate Bannerstones Found?
Ovate bannerstones span much of the eastern United States. Notched and double-notched ovates are known from Michigan and Ohio, while southern ovates come from Georgia and Florida. Bannerstones as a whole were made from Michigan to the tip of Florida between about 6000 and 1000 B.C.
What Is a Notched Ovate Bannerstone Worth?
Value depends on the sub-type, material, size, symmetry, condition and provenance. Crisp, symmetrical notches, attractive stone and a documented find location all add value, while damage or restoration reduces it. For a realistic value, get a free bannerstone appraisal.
Notched Ovate Bannerstone FAQ
What is an ovate bannerstone?
A bannerstone with an oval or egg-shaped outline and a hole drilled through the center.
What makes a bannerstone a notched ovate?
Notches worked into the ovate outline, usually at the top and bottom. Double-notched ovates have paired notches.
What is a southern ovate bannerstone?
An ovate form from the Southeast, often made of greenstone or igneous rock, with examples from Georgia and Florida.
Have an Ovate Bannerstone?
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