Birdstone · Late Archaic
Birdstone
2000–500 BCE, Adena
The birdstone is an abstract bird-shaped effigy of the Late Archaic and Early Woodland Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, about 2,000 to 500 BCE, drilled diagonally at each end of a flat base for attachment, probably to an atlatl. Popeyed forms with raised eye knobs are the most prized. It is among the most valuable prehistoric objects in the East.
| Object | Birdstone |
|---|---|
| Dates | 2000–500 BCE |
| Period | Late Archaic |
| Cultures | Adena |
| Regions | North America — Eastern Woodlands |
Diagnostic traits
Abstract bird-shaped effigy with a flat base drilled diagonally at each end; popeyed variants have raised eye knobs.
Identification
Birdstones have a flat base with paired diagonal perforations and a stylised bird body with head and tail, in elongated, bar or popeyed forms, unlike boatstones, which are hollowed hull-shaped weights. Banded slate and porphyry are the usual materials. Eye knobs on popeyed forms are drilled and ground.
Reproductions and fakes
Birdstones are heavily faked and have been since the nineteenth century; fakes show rotary drill striations, uniform polish and often the wrong slate. Genuine pieces have tapering reed-drilled holes with rings and hand-polish. Provenance documentation is essential for any birdstone.
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Birdstone" (Artifact type). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/study/types/birdstone. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-birdstone,
title = {Birdstone},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/types/birdstone}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, commons. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.