This tomahawk was found along the Schoharie Creek in the Schoharie Valley. It is on display in the first floor exhibit at the Old Stone Fort Museum and is an excellent example of the metal tomahawks in common use amoung Native Americans by the time of the American Revolution.
Through the influence of Sir William Johnson and Joseph Brant most of the Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy remained loyal to Great Britain during the Revolution. Mohawks participated in raids and skirmishes in the Schoharie Valley, including the October 1780 Burning of the Valley.
With its handle long gone, it’s fascinating to think about just what exactly this tomahawk might used for, who held it, and what lead to it being lost along the banks of the Schoharie Creek.