TUCSON, Arizona — amazing discovery This gun was made in the Santa Cruz Valley, where archaeologists unearthed the oldest known firearm found in the continental United States.

This artifact, a bronze cannon dating back to the Vázquez de Coronado expedition in 1540, offers a glimpse into the valuable weaponry of early Spanish explorers.

Professional archaeologist Deni Seymour discovered it during a routine outing with volunteers.

“One day when I was out there with other volunteers, we were systematically searching and within five minutes of starting, we found it,” Seymour said.

The cannon was found on the floor of a Spanish stone and adobe building in the Santa Cruz Valley. This type of cannon, known as a “wall gun”, was designed for offensive operations, especially for breaching wooden or lightweight adobe walls. Two operators were required to function, highlighting the level of coordination and firepower utilized during the expedition.

Seymour emphasized the importance of this discovery in understanding the historical context and human behavior in the 16th century.

“It’s about what the meaning of these artifacts in the larger environment means for history and for our understanding of human behavior and our understanding of this time period,” Seymour said.

For now, the artifact is kept in secure storage. Although public access to this piece of history will have to wait, the discovery marks an important milestone in American archeology and history.

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