It was exactly the kind of artifact researchers had been hoping to find.

A sword pommel is the part at the end of the handle.

It provides balance to the blade and helps keep the weapon together.

Because swords were important military equipment, a Spanish sword component appearing in a Native settlement is significant.

But its location was even more important.

The pommel was found in the area associated with a Native house feature that Blanton had previously suspected had been occupied or commandeered during the Spanish encounter.

The artifact therefore did not appear randomly in a modern field.