Oldest Known Firearm Unearthed in the United States at Coronado’s San Geronimo Settlement

 

In a remarkable archaeological discovery, independent scholar Deni Seymour has unearthed a 40-pound bronze cannon at the site of San Geronimo III (also known as Suya), believed to be the oldest known firearm in the continental United States. The cannon, a three-foot-long "hook gun," was discovered at the site of a short-lived settlement established by members of the expedition led by Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado.

Coronado, inspired by rumors of golden cities, set out from Compostela on February 23, 1540, with over 300 European men and possibly more than 2,800 people in total. His expedition explored what are now the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Kansas. In 1541, Coronado's forces established San Geronimo, but the settlement was soon attacked by the Sobaipuri O’odham, who resisted Spanish expansion. The Spanish ultimately abandoned the settlement after most of the population was killed.

Seymour, conducting a systematic metal detector survey of the site in 2020, identified the location as part of the Coronado expedition. Inside a structure made of adobe and stone, she uncovered the cannon. Interestingly, no gunpowder residue was found in the barrel, suggesting that the cannon was not fired during the conflict. Seymour speculated that the battle unfolded too quickly for the Spanish defenders to load and fire the weapon.

In a further intriguing twist, Seymour discovered another cannon at the site in March 2024. This cannon had been damaged during the battle, with the side of the barrel blown out. "They probably put too much powder in trying to repel an onslaught of attackers who were overrunning them," Seymour explained.

The discovery sheds light on the early use of firearms in the New World and offers new insights into the fierce struggles between Spanish settlers and Native peoples during the 16th century. Coronado, after his failure to find the fabled golden cities, returned to Mexico in 1542, leaving behind these remarkable artifacts from a brief and turbulent chapter in American history. What do you think these finds tell us about the challenges faced by early explorers and settlers in the Americas?