Researchers in Arizona recently uncovered what is believed to be the oldest gun ever found in the continental United States. This historic discovery was made in a Spanish stone-and-adobe building near the Santa Cruz River, dating back to the first European expedition of the Southwest in 1540.
The bronze cannon, also known as a wall gun, was hidden inside the ruins of the building for 480 years before being unearthed. The excavation began in late 2021 with the aim of shedding light on the Spanish settlement of San Geronimo III. The gun’s design dates back to the mid-to-late 1400s, making it an obsolete weapon by the time of the expedition.
It is believed that the gun was never fired and was abandoned when the indigenous Sobaipuri O’odham people successfully attacked San Geronimo III. This attack led to the Spanish staying out of southern Arizona for the next 150 years. The weapon is considered a significant artifact and is one of the earliest surviving firearms in the United States.
The unsuccessful Spanish expedition, led by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, aimed to find riches and routes to Asia. However, the journey did not yield the expected results as no gold or silver was discovered, and the native populations encountered were too small to exploit for profit. The expedition was called off around the time San Geronimo III was attacked by the Sobaipuri O’odham people, leading to the destruction of the town.
The discovery of the bronze cannon, along with thousands of other artifacts, provided researchers with valuable evidence of the battle that forced the Spanish out of the region for a century and a half. The cannon was likely left behind during the attack, as the Spanish were caught off guard and did not have time to use or retrieve the weapon.
The wall gun was lightweight, portable, and versatile, making it suitable for the expedition. It could handle heavy charges of buckshot or round lead balls, although this particular weapon showed no signs of being fired. The absence of black residue in the barrel indicates that the gun was never loaded or discharged during the attack.
The historic weapon was excavated alongside a second cannon, which will be analyzed in future studies. This unique discovery sheds light on an important chapter in American history and highlights the early interactions between European settlers and Native American tribes in the region.
