rranged 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.

[Illustration: FIRING A DEMICULVERINE FROM A BASTION AT "JAMES FORT."
(Conjectural sketch by Sidney E. King.)]

[Illustration: HILT AND PORTION OF BLADE OF A SWEPT-HILT RAPIER
EXCAVATED AT JAMESTOWN OF THE 1600-1610 PERIOD.]

MUSKETS

An excellent assemblage of 17th-century musket barrels and gun parts
have been recovered from the Jamestown soil, reminiscent of times when
Indians attempted to wipe out the small settlement.

Among the gunlocks found are matchlocks, wheel-locks, snaphaunces,
"doglocks," and flintlocks. The first settlers were equipped with both
wheel-lock and matchlock muskets. Some of the muskets were so heavy,
they required a forked ground-rest to shoot (parts of two forked
ground-rests have been excavated). Other muskets, like the caliver, were
light, and could be fired without the use of a support.

The standard musket during the early years of the settlement was the
matchlock. By 1625, however, the picture had changed, for the
wheel-lock, snaphaunce, and "doglock," were being used in large numbers,
and the matchlock had become obsolete.

PISTOLS

Only a few pistol barrels and parts have been unearthed. One pistol
barrel is attractively ornamented with silver bands.

LIGHT ARMOR AND SIEGE HELMET

A breastplate and backpiece from a light suit of armor (probably a
pikeman's suit) were found in a refuse pit. These interesting specimens
were probably made in England during