Intact Cannonball Unearthed at the Alamo Dates Back to 1836 Battle

Archaeologists at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, have discovered a remarkably well-preserved bronze cannonball dating back to the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. The uncover, made on March 5, 2026, occurred just one day before the 190th anniversary of the pivotal battle in the Texas Revolution. The discovery was first announced on the Alamo’s podcast, “Stories Bigger Than Texas.”

Discovery Details

The four-pound cannonball was found approximately three feet below ground in an excavation unit outside the Alamo Church, in what archaeologists described as a “clean deposit” – meaning the soil layers remained undisturbed over time. This undisturbed layering provides a high degree of certainty regarding the artifact’s age and connection to the battle. “I have chills now, just thinking about it,” said Dr. Tiffany Lindley, the Alamo’s director of archaeology, on the podcast. “March 5th is when we pulled it out of the ground. I don’t think words can express the feelings that we all felt.”

Mexican Army Origin Likely

Experts believe the cannonball likely originated from the Mexican Army, which primarily used bronze ammunition during the siege. Texan forces, conversely, typically employed iron cannonballs. Kolby Lanham, the Alamo’s senior researcher and historian, explained, “We can’t say with 100% certainty that it came from the Mexican Army, but I would say 99% because largely the Mexican Army is using bronze cannonballs and largely the Texans are using iron cannonballs.” While acknowledging the possibility of captured munitions being reused, Lanham expressed a strong conviction that the artifact is of Mexican origin and was likely fired during either the 13-day siege or the battle itself.

Ongoing Archaeological Work

The discovery of the cannonball is part of an ongoing $550 million preservation project at the Alamo. In addition to the intact cannonball, archaeologists too recovered four fragments of cannonballs outside the church. At least one of these fragments is also believed to be from the Battle of the Alamo, potentially originating from a short-barreled cannon called a howitzer used by the Mexican army. Researchers are currently working to piece the fragments together.

Historical Significance

The Battle of the Alamo, fought from February 23 to March 6, 1836, saw approximately 180 Texan defenders, including William Travis, James Bowie, and Davy Crockett, besieged by thousands of Mexican troops led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna. The battle resulted in the deaths of all the Alamo’s defenders, but it became a rallying cry for the Texas Revolution, with soldiers later shouting “Remember the Alamo!” during subsequent skirmishes.

“Things like that change the Alamo’s story,” Lanham said. The newly discovered cannonball serves as a tangible link to this significant historical event, offering further insight into the siege and battle that shaped the course of Texas history.

Sources

The Alamo, Fox4News, LiveScience, KENS5