[MR] Archaeology News: Oldest Gun in North America Unearthed

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Thanks to Lady Sophia, I have begun reading the online Archaeology News
magazine, and there is a wealth of material there for reposting to you.

In late November Archaeology News posted a story about the oldest firearm
found in North America. It is a small 16th century Spanish cannon found in
Arizona.

The weapon was discovered in the remains of a Spanish fort at the
short-lived settlement of San Geronimo III. The fort dates to the 1539-1542
expedition of the conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado. Coronado had
been sent to look for, and loot, the Seven Cities of Gold. Well, there
wasn't much gold (Las Vegas didn't exist yet), but Coronado made a pest of
himself oppressing the local native tribes. Eventually the natives had
enough of him and his friends, and chased them back to Mexico.

The weapon is described as a "wall gun", a small cannon. It is sand-cast
from bronze and is about 42" in length. It would have packed quite a
wallop, and would have been useful for defending the fort. Researchers
noted, however, that there was no powder residue inside the tube suggesting
it had never been fired. That is probably wrong, as the gun certainly would
have been tested or "proofed" when it was made, but it probably wasn't used
during the expedition. The gun was left behind when the Spanish made their
hasty retreat from San Geronimo.

You can see the wall gun at
https://archaeologymag.com/2024/11/oldest-us-firearm-discovered-in-arizona/
.

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.