Musket rests were used to prop the barrels of the long and heavy matchlock guns while aiming and firing. The U-shaped element at the right would have been mounted on the end of a wooden shaft and carried by the musketeer. Six musket rests have been excavated at Jamestown so far.

Musket Rest, iron, early 17th century. Context: Pit 1, ca. 1607-1610.