]
[Illustration: THE CALTROP UNEARTHED AT JAMESTOWN. THIS SHARP-POINTED
INSTRUMENT WAS THROWN ON THE GROUND TO IMPEDE AN ENEMY'S INFANTRY AND
CAVALRY.]
CALTROP
This small item unearthed at Jamestown is an instrument with 4 iron
points, so arranged that no matter how it lands, 1 point always projects
upward, to impede the progress of an enemy's cavalry and to prevent
surprise attacks.
SWORDS, RAPIERS, AND CUTLASSES
Types of swords that have been found include broadswords, cutlasses or
back swords, and rapiers. Three examples are complete, or nearly so--a
cutlass, a broadsword, and a swept-hilt rapier. Many basket hilts were
unearthed together with guards from other type swords, pommels, and
blade fragments. A number of these edged weapons were made between 1600
and 1625. Several basket-hilted guards and blade fragments were found at
the site of an early 17th-century forge, which may have been an
armorer's workshop.
CANNON
One small cannon barrel fragment, possibly from a light cannon known as
a robinet, has been unearthed (the bore at the end of the barrel is only
1-1/4 inches across). A varied assortment of 17th-century cannon balls
have also been found, appropriate sizes for such ordnance as
demiculverines, sakers, minions, and falcons.
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