A Turned Hardwood Pillar Dial, with hinged mental gnomon, concealed within turned a finial and inscribed with month and hour scales. Sundials of this type were also called shepherds dials and were very popular in the Elizabethan period. The time could not be determined precisely, but they were simple to make and required no compass. They were oriented with the gnomon pointed toward the sun and turned to the proper day and month setting. The time indicating shadow is read on index on the side.