This is a well defined example of a rarely found Texas artifact. It is made of a banded color limestone. Though the boatstone itself is only ever so slightly concave it was very purposefully polished to it's present shape. This artifact may have been used as a weight, designed to counter balance an ancient spear throwing stick known as an Atlatl.

Boatstones are very rare in Texas, even more so from a documented cultural context within an identifiable time period. This one was reportedly found in close association with Carrollton points. Named after the town of Carrollton, near Dallas, this projectile point type occurs at the end of the Early Archaic in Texas, circa. 5000 YBP. All of the similarly aged artifacts shown below are from this same campsite on the South Bosque. This group of points is a good representation of the predominant cultural components at this site.


The big Carrollton point in the first photo is 3-1/4" long.
The three points in the second photo are typical of the site.


This Dawson point probably represent the transition from Wells to Carrollton in this area.
Transitional qualities are apparent in the second point as well.


These two Carrollton points represent the point type which were closest associated with this boatstone.
They are circa. 5000 YBP.


Another Carrollton points and a Uvalde like point.
These Uvalde like points are commonly found in this area immediately following Carrollton.


An unusual Carrollton drill and a Yarbrough point.
Yarbrough points are often made of colorful cherts.

This camp on the McLennan county side of the river was excavated by Andy Brinkman. Dwain Roger is familiar with the site and wrote a COA on this artifact as an authentic boatstone. I acquired it from Bill Arnold who reported that it was dug with Carrolltons. This camp primarily had Wells, Dawson, Axtel, Carrollton, Yarbrough and Uvalde like components. The Carrollton focus was the largest component at this camp.

Texas boatstones are rare enough that there is probably not such a thing as a "classic example", even if there was this one is far from what could be considered classic. Most examples have a much deeper concavity. Much speculation still exist as to the actual function of these types of objects. TURNER & HESTER note Bannerstones as more being suitable as atlatl weights and that various authors have "suggested use as a charm stone, a fetish or a cerimonial object" for boatstones.

I wish to thank Bill Arnold for adding this unique artifact to my collection and for providing as much information as he could on the find.

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References Cited:

Turner & Hester
“FIELD GUIDE TO STONE ARTIFACTS OF THE TEXAS INDIANS”

Mr. Dwain Roger
Mr. Bill Arnold
Personal communications

Photos & Text (c) David Crain / Texasarrowheads.com

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