Archaeologists Discover an Intact Cannonball From the Battle of the Alamo—One Day Before the Pivotal Conflict’s 190th Anniversary

The projectile is made of bronze, which suggests it was fired by the Mexican Army during the siege leading up to the 1836 battle

Sarah Kuta | Daily Correspondent

March 25, 2026

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Archaeologists in Texas recently unearthed a fully intact cannonball that was likely fired during the siege leading up to the Battle of the Alamo, a pivotal moment in Texas’ fight for independence from Mexico nearly two centuries ago.

Researchers discovered the four-pound, bronze projectile buried roughly three feet deep near the northeast corner of the Alamo Church, part of the 18th-century Spanish mission at the heart of the 1836 battle. They unearthed the cannonball on March 5, the day before the battle’s 190th anniversary.

“I have chills now just thinking about it,” says Tiffany Lindley, director of archaeology for the Alamo, on a recent episode of “Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast.”

Kolby Lanham, a senior researcher and historian at the site, echoed that sentiment, adding that he was “gobsmacked” by the discovery.

“That’s a literal artifact from the Battle of the Alamo, and you’re holding it for the first time since the battle happened,” he said on the podcast. “That is a pretty wild thing to think about.”

The projectile was probably fired by the Mexican Army, which generally used bronze cannonballs. The Texans, meanwhile, primarily fired iron cannonballs, according to Lanham.

“Doesn’t mean that they didn’t capture each other’s stuff and use it, but I would say with a fair amount of certainty this is a Mexican Army cannonball, and it was likely fired at the Battle of the Alamo,” he adds.

Archaeologists discovered the cannonball amid ongoing renovations at the historic site, which is managed by a nonprofit trust in partnership with the state of Texas. The multiyear, $550 million project includes the construction of a new collections center, visitor center and museum, and educational venue; crews are also replacing the roof of the Alamo Church. The state also recently purchased two neighboring hotels to protect the historic grounds and create a more seamless visitor experience.

The cannonball is just the latest discovery near the church. Over the past year, archaeologists have also discovered four exploding shot fragments—three made of bronze and one made of iron.

Initial measurements indicate that the rounds were probably fired from an eight-inch howitzer that belonged to the Mexican Army.

“These are howitzer rounds,” Lanham said on the podcast. “They’re fired from a small, stubby-style howitzer gun. And these howitzer shells are different than the cannonball. … That’d be a solid bronze ball. These are hollow inside with gunpowder—they explode like a grenade. We’re hoping to take these pieces, measure them out and hopefully try to piece them together to give us an idea of what size it was.”

The Battle of the Alamo took place on March 6, 1836, during the Texas Revolution. A small group of Texans captured and occupied the historic Spanish mission complex, then defended it against a much larger Mexican army, led by Antonio López de Santa Anna. After a 13-day siege, Mexican forces overran the Alamo, killing nearly all of the defenders, including figures like Davy Crockett and James Bowie.

Although the Texans lost the battle, it became a powerful symbol of resistance—and “Remember the Alamo” became the group’s rallying cry. Texas gained independence after winning the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836.

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Sarah Kuta is a writer and editor based in Longmont, Colorado. She covers history, science, travel, food and beverage, sustainability, economics and other topics.