Archaeologists Uncover Two Alamo Cannonballs

Two solid cannonballs from the 1836 Battle of the Alamo were found along the perimeter of Alamo Church, bringing the site's total to four.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Historical

Photograph of an excavation trench in pale soil beside a weathered limestone church wall, with a dark iron cannonball partly exposed among layered earth and tools on a tarp. — Archaeologists uncovered two solid cannonballs along the perimeter of Alamo Church in San Antonio, bringing the site's total to four from the 1836 siege. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Archaeologists announced the discovery of two solid cannonballs from the Battle of the Alamo along the perimeter of Alamo Church. The find brings the total number of cannonballs recovered at the site to four.

Why it matters

The artifacts add physical evidence to the historical record of the siege, which lasted from February 23 to March 6, 1836, and ended with Mexican troops overrunning the Texian defenders. For San Antonio residents, the excavation continues to shape understanding of a central event in the city's history.

The smaller cannonball measures 1.8 inches in diameter and the larger measures 3.26 inches, corresponding to 1-pounder and 6-pounder cannons. The two new finds join a 4-pounder found in March 2026 and a 6-pounder found in June 2026.

The details

The two cannonballs were uncovered during ongoing archaeological excavations, in layers of soil that also contained musket balls and gun parts. Archaeologists linked the artifacts to the battle using soil layer depth and other nearby objects.

February 23 to March 6, 1836: The Battle of the Alamo siege took place.
March 2026: A 4-pounder cannonball was found on the eve of the 190th anniversary of the battle.
June 2026: A 6-pounder cannonball was found.
Late October 2026: Archaeologists announced the discovery of the two cannonballs.

Historical Context

The discovery extends a sequence of 2026 cannonball recoveries at the Alamo, beginning with a 4-pounder found in March on the eve of the battle's 190th anniversary. The four recovered cannonballs now total the site's artillery finds from the siege.

San Antonio residents and visitors can view the Alamo site and its ongoing archaeological work as a tangible link to the city's 1836 history. The recovered artifacts are expected to inform how the site's past is interpreted for those who visit it.

The takeaway

Physical artifacts such as cannonballs provide concrete evidence that complements written accounts of historic battles. Readers interested in the Alamo's history can follow how archaeological finds are reshaping the record of the 1836 siege.