Maryland Archeology Month

-April 2009-

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St. Mary's City:
375 years old, thousands of years young

Explore!

Archeology Gallery

dagger pommel

This iron object is the pommel of a 17th-century dagger. The pommel is the part of a dagger, sword, or other edged weapon and is located below the hilt or grip. It provides a counterbalance to the weight of the blade.This dagger was decorated with a human face on the terminals of the pommel. It was further embellished with silver plating, part of which is preserved.

Edged weapons including swords, daggers, and knives were common weapons in the 17th century. Given the high quality of the metal used in these weapons, it is not uncommon for the blades to be recycled into other objects by colonial blacksmiths after the weapon was damaged.