Animal Picket

Made of blackened steel, this picket would have been useful for Scotty when he went packing with his mules. The top swivels so the rod could be hammered into the ground. The animal would be tied to the picket and the swivel would allow it to graze in a circle. This was probably not enough to keep a determined animal in place so hobbles might have also been used. Scotty was an experienced horseman who knew his animals well and was always prepared to look after them. The picket has "RTA US 1905" stamped on it so it could have been around well before Johnson established his Death Valley Ranch.
Leather, steel. L 3.3; Case L 3.5 cm
Death Valley National Park, DEVA 18924