In a fascinating archaeological development, independent researchers in Arizona have uncovered a bronze cannon linked to the famous Vázquez de Coronado expedition, marking it as the oldest known firearm discovered in the continental United States. This remarkable find sheds new light on the weapons used during the 1539–1542 exploration of the American Southwest, providing valuable insight into the technological tools employed by Spanish explorers during this early period of colonization.
The year 1539 marked the beginning of an audacious expedition led by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, organized by Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza of New Spain. Driven by rumors and reports of vast wealth in cities north of Mexico—rumors that tantalizingly promised gold, jewels, and untold riches—the Spanish crown saw an opportunity for further expansion into the unexplored territories of the New World. The tales of the legendary Seven Cities of Cíbola, which had been recounted by the friar Fray Marcos de Niza, seemed to promise fortunes. These tales, however, were grounded more in myth and hearsay than reality.
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, a nobleman who had mortgaged his wife’s estate and borrowed extensively to finance the expedition, took the leadership of the venture. Accompanied by 150 mounted soldiers, 200 infantrymen, and many hundreds of native recruits, Coronado set off across the New World in search of the golden cities. His mission was both grand and grim: to find wealth, lay claim to new lands for Spain, and secure a large labor force by enslaving native populations. However, as the journey unfolded, it became clear that Coronado would not achieve the results he had hoped for. The fabled cities of gold did not exist, and instead of acquiring treasure, the Spanish explorers faced a lack of resources and hostile encounters with indigenous groups.
Although Coronado’s expedition became known for its failure to uncover any significant wealth or substantial cities, the encounter with Native American communities was a turning point in Spanish colonization efforts. Instead of wealth, the expedition found mostly blankets, pottery, and small-scale belongings from the native communities they came across. These encounters, while not the lucrative discoveries anticipated, began to shape the nature of future Spanish-Native relations in the region.
The unearthed cannon from this expedition is one of the rare artifacts that connects directly to this historical period. In a recent study published in the International Journal of Historical Archaeology, researchers have provided new insights into the cannon’s discovery. The bronze cannon was found at an excavation site located in the Santa Cruz Valley, Arizona, in a stone-and-adobe structure. Radiocarbon dating and optically stimulated luminescence techniques were used to pinpoint the structure’s age, confirming it to be from the period of Coronado’s expedition.
In addition to the cannon, other items recovered from the site, including European pottery, olive jar shards, glass fragments, and parts of weapons, align closely with the materials and tools used during the Coronado expedition. These artifacts, all pointing to a Spanish presence in the region, provide tangible proof of the military technologies brought by the Spanish conquerors.
The cannon itself, sometimes referred to as a “wall gun,” was an early type of firearm requiring the operation of two individuals. These types of cannons were primarily designed for use along fortification walls or as siege weapons. According to historical accounts, these wall guns were employed by the Spanish to breach the wooden or light adobe walls of the indigenous dwellings they encountered in the cities they came across. As such, the cannon serves as a reflection of the confrontational and forceful nature of the Spanish invasion.
This particular cannon measures approximately 42 inches in length and weighs about 40 pounds, a manageable size for transport and operation with the assistance of a tripod. Upon inspection, the cannon shows evidence of having been sand-cast, with three sprue marks visible along the bottom axis, indicative of the casting process. Four iron pins are also found within the design, further confirming the process used during the weapon’s production. Interestingly, the cannon bears no ornamental features. While many Spanish-made weapons from this era were decorated in intricate designs, this piece’s simple and utilitarian design suggests it was likely cast outside Spain—possibly in Mexico or the Caribbean, where craftsmanship tended to be less decorative.
This unembellished style also raises the possibility that the cannon may have been purchased from a previous Spanish expedition. Some historians speculate that it may even have been an artifact from Ponce de León’s earlier explorations in the Caribbean. However, the cannon was found unloaded and exhibits no signs of use in battle, a curious detail that has left researchers wondering why it was abandoned.
Historical accounts from the time suggest that the local Sobaipuri O’odham people, a Native American group from the region, may have launched an attack on the Spanish settlement that coincided with Coronado’s departure from the area. Evidence found at the site, including clusters of lead shot and distinct arrowheads from the Sobaipuri, provide physical proof of the violent confrontation. These remnants of indigenous resistance reinforce the accounts of local hostilities that led to the Spaniards’ eventual retreat from the area.
This discovery represents the first known firearm connected directly to the Coronado expedition and provides valuable clues about early Spanish-Native American interactions in the American Southwest. Firearms such as the cannon played a crucial role in the power dynamics between the Spanish and the indigenous populations, offering the Spanish forces a technological advantage in their conquest of the land and its peoples.
The artifacts unearthed at this Arizona site, including the cannon, contribute significantly to our understanding of early colonial efforts in the Southwest, particularly the physical tools of Spanish exploration and military strategy. The next step for researchers is to conduct additional analyses to trace the exact origins of the cannon. Scholars are also interested in exploring the other recovered items to better understand the full scope of Coronado’s expedition and the impact it had on indigenous communities.
As archaeological technologies advance, more light will be shed on the experiences of the Spanish explorers as well as their interactions with the diverse and resilient indigenous peoples of the Southwest. This cannon serves as a testament to both the ambitious goals of Spanish colonization and the complex, multifaceted history of the American Southwest—a history defined by both conquest and resistance, survival, and adaptation.
The discovery of this weapon in Arizona is not merely a fascinating look into the past but also an opportunity to reassess the legacy of the Coronado expedition. The stories of conquest, cultural exchange, and even conflict that surround it are fundamental to understanding the history of the American Southwest and its long-standing effects on the region. It also allows modern-day viewers a rare glimpse into a particular facet of history—the introduction and use of European firearms— that forever altered the course of Native American history. As further research and excavation continue at the site, future findings are likely to enrich our comprehension of the historical impact this cannon, along with other artifacts, can illuminate about this pivotal moment in American history.
Reference: Deni J. Seymour et al, Coronado’s Cannon: A 1539-42 Coronado Expedition Cannon Discovered in Arizona, International Journal of Historical Archaeology (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s10761-024-00761-7