Second Alamo Cannonball Found After 190 Years Underground

Archaeologists digging near the Alamo Church in San Antonio just unearthed a piece of history that hasn't seen daylight since before the Civil War. A cannonball, likely fired during the famous 1836 Battle of the Alamo, emerged from the ground on June 2, marking the second such discovery in just three months.

The rusted iron cannonball was found outside the northeast corner of the Alamo Church, right next to where researchers discovered another intact cannonball in March. Both sat at the same depth, suggesting they've remained undisturbed since the day they hit the ground.

"So whenever they were dropped, the very first time, possibly in 1836, probably, they haven't been touched since," said Tiffany Lindley, director of archaeology at the Alamo. "And that's what makes them extra special."

The Battle of the Alamo stands as one of Texas history's defining moments. From February 23 to March 6, 1836, a small group of Texian rebels, including legendary figures like Davy Crockett and William B. Travis, held off a much larger Mexican army for 13 days.

The Ripple Effect

Finding one cannonball was remarkable enough, but discovering two has researchers buzzing about what else might be hiding beneath this sacred ground. The site has been heavily used over nearly two centuries, with military occupation and commercial development disturbing much of what lay below.

"It was amazing to find one cannonball, and then to follow it up a couple of months later with a second was quite surprising," Lindley told Fox News Digital. The first cannonball was bronze and better preserved, while this new iron one shows heavy rust but remains in solid condition.

The Alamo Trust, which oversees the historic mission, plans to send both artifacts for professional conservation. Beyond these dramatic finds, Lindley's team uncovers dozens of historic items daily, from exciting relics to ordinary objects like nails and brick fragments.

Each discovery adds another piece to understanding how people actually lived at this legendary site. After excavations wrap up, researchers will analyze everything they've found to paint a clearer picture of daily life during one of America's most storied chapters.

Two cannonballs in three months proves that history still has secrets to share.