Oldest US Firearm Found in Arizona and Tied to Coronado Expedition

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Oldest US Firearm Found in Arizona and Tied to Coronado Expedition

A groundbreaking discovery in southern Arizona has unveiled the oldest known firearm in the continental ******* States. A bronze wall ****, dating to the Coronado expedition of 1539–1542, was excavated in the Santa Cruz Valley, at a site discovered several years ago. This rare find sheds light on the weaponry and interactions between Spanish explorers and Native ********* communities during the early years of ********* colonization in the ********* Southwest.

The firearm, identified as a medieval-style cannon, measures 42 inches (106.7 cm) in length, weighs approximately 40 pounds (18 kg), and has a bore diameter of .95 inches (24.7 mm), equivalent to a 5-gauge shotgun. Likely used to breach fortifications, this piece is emblematic of the expedition’s militarized approach to exploration, and is described in a study published in the 

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Coronado’s Quest for Wealth and Conquest

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado’s expedition, organized by Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza, set out to find the fabled Seven Cities of Cíbola, explains a

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. Inspired by tales of unimaginable wealth recounted by Fray Marcos de Niza, Coronado invested heavily, mortgaging his wife’s property to fund the venture. The expedition included 150 cavalry soldiers, 200 infantrymen, and numerous Native allies, traveling north from Mexico into the Southwest in search of riches.

Coronado’s journey proved to be a costly disappointment. The cities described by de Niza were modest Pueblo communities rather than the golden metropolises he had imagined. The expedition resorted to looting and *********, taking blankets and pottery from Indigenous settlements before retreating after reaching the Great Plains of Kansas.

The cannon, referred to in the study “

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,” provides a tangible link to this historic yet controversial campaign.

The wall **** was resting on the floor of a Spanish structure. This figure shows it while under excavation, held firmly in place by roots. (

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Unearthing the Cannon

Discovered at the site of a Spanish stone-and-

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structure, the cannon was partially ******* and entangled in roots when unearthed. Researchers employed radiocarbon dating and optically stimulated luminescence to confirm the structure’s age, which coincides with Coronado’s presence in the region.

Other artifacts found at the site—including fragments of ********* pottery, olive jars, glass shards, and ******* components—further support the link to Coronado’s expedition.

The cannon itself, known as a wall ****, was an early firearm operated by two people. Originally designed for defensive purposes along fortifications, it was repurposed by Coronado’s forces for offensive actions against light fortifications such as wooden or

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walls.

The cannon’s design offers additional clues about its origin. Its plain sand-cast structure, marked by three sprue lines and four iron pins, indicates it may have been manufactured locally in Mexico or the Caribbean rather than Spain, where more decorative casting techniques were common. This raises the possibility that it had been purchased secondhand, potentially from an earlier Spanish expedition like that of Ponce de León.

The Aftermath and Abandonment

Historical records suggest that the cannon was left behind during a Sobaipuri O’odham ******* on the Spanish settlement, notes the study. Clusters of lead shot and Sobaipuri arrowheads found nearby corroborate accounts of a confrontation. The cannon, found unloaded and showing no signs of battle use, prompts questions about its abandonment.

Was it too heavy to transport during a hasty retreat, or was it left deliberately as the Spaniards prioritized survival? These unanswered questions highlight the challenges faced by Coronado’s expedition, which struggled with logistical difficulties and hostile encounters throughout its journey.

Significance of the Find

This discovery marks the first firearm directly tied to the Coronado expedition and provides new insights into the era’s military technology. It also underscores the complex and often violent interactions between ********* explorers and Native ********* communities.

Further analyses of the cannon and associated artifacts aim to uncover more about its origins and use. Researchers hope this find will offer a deeper understanding of early Spanish expeditions in the Southwest and the impacts of colonization on Indigenous peoples.

Top image: The excavated and restored bronze medieval-style wall or rampart **** found the Coronado expedition site in southern Arizona.                              Source:

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By Gary Manners

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#Oldest #Firearm #Arizona #Tied #Coronado #Expedition

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