Archaeologists working in the heart of San Antonio have uncovered a fully intact bronze cannonball just feet from The Alamo’s mission church, a find that appears to come straight out of the 1836 siege. The four‑pound projectile, preserved in the soil for nearly two centuries, offers a rare physical link to the Battle of the Alamo and the Mexican artillery that pounded the compound.
Found only a day before the battle’s 190th anniversary, the artifact has quickly become a focal point for historians, preservationists, and visitors who see in it a tangible reminder of the brutal fight that helped shape Texas history.
The moment of discovery
The Alamo’s archaeology team was conducting a planned excavation near the historic church when crew members spotted a compact, spherical object about three feet below ground. At first glance it looked like a buried stone. Closer inspection revealed a smooth bronze surface and the familiar profile of a solid shot cannonball, still intact after almost 190 years.
Archaeologists on site described an immediate surge of emotion as they realized what they had found. One team member said the discovery gave them “chills,” a reaction that captured how quickly a routine dig had turned into a direct encounter with the 1836 battle. The work is part of broader investigations around the Alamo grounds, which sit within central San Antonio, where layers of colonial, military, and urban history overlap…