Below is a follow-up to the article we posted on December 5 (here).
The 16th-century artifacts were found during excavations in Arizona. Researchers say they may be the oldest firearms ever discovered in the continental United States
by Sarah Kuta, Daily Correspondent, Smithsonian Magazine
In 1541, Spanish explorers established a settlement called San Geronimo III in present-day southern Arizona. Led by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, the conquistadors were exploring what is now the American Southwest in hopes of finding riches and gold.
But not long after setting up San Geronimo III near the Santa Cruz River, the Spanish explorers encountered an Indigenous community known as the Sobaipuri O’odham. The two groups engaged in battle, with the Sobaipuri O’odham ultimately prevailing. The Spanish conquistadors fled, leaving behind some of their weapons and belongings as they made a speedy getaway.
Now, archaeologists have unearthed two of the defeated group’s 16th-century cannons. They may be the oldest firearms ever discovered in the continental United States.
Read the full article here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-500-year-old-cannons-may-help-unravel-the-mysteries-of-the-coronado-expedition-180985688/
