What is this? Civil War Era ordnance?

[USS ALASKA]

https://kubrick.htvapps.com/htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/images/cannon-balls-bomb-squad-656638001642b.png?crop=1.00xw:0.564xh;0,0.122xh&resize=900:*

NEWS
12 cannonballs unearthed at former Raytheon site in Waltham
Nov. 28, 2023
Susannah Sudborough

An excavation crew in Waltham discovered a dozen cannonballs at a dig site Monday morning. Construction workers were digging for a new electrical conduit at 43 Foundry Ave. when they unearthed "a section of pipe and some round metal balls of varying sizes," the Waltham Fire Department said in a news release Tuesday. Concerned that the metal balls "might be some type of unexploded military ordnances," a worker called 911. Waltham police and firefighters responded, and the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad was called in, the department said. Buildings and a shopping plaza in the area were evacuated as a precaution. Another piece of "military ordnance" that wasn't a cannonball was also found at the site. The cannonballs were X-rayed before being safely taken off site and countercharged, the department said. The Boston Globe reported that the cannonballs were found at a former Raytheon location. Raytheon is a Waltham-based defense contractor.

Full article here - https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/...rthed-at-former-raytheon-site-in-waltham.html

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Rhea Cole]

My OED veteran nephew said that he was surprised that the local bomb squad didn't blow them in place. Ordinarily blackpowder is extremely stable. When it has been soaked for a long time it becomes "touchy," as he put it. In his experience relic hunters seem to forget that killing people was what those things are for.

The high point of his relic collecting career was an 8" cruiser round presented to NPS rangers at the visitor center, "Kids want to take this home…"

My nephew was there on Cape Cod cleaning up a former naval target range. His boss' first response to the ranger's call was, "Flag it & we will come blow it in place." The look on his face when told the shell was in the back of an SUV in the parking lot was priceless.

In Afghanistan he disposed of shells, land mines, hand grenades, mortars & some improbable relics dating from the British War onward. He has no interest in collecting relics.

 

[USS ALASKA]

My OED veteran nephew said that he was surprised that the local bomb squad didn't blow them in place.

Sir, perhaps the location...

...wasn't conducive to localized explosions.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Rhea Cole]

Sir, perhaps the location...

View attachment 492164

...wasn't conducive to localized explosions.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

Needles to say, he didn't blow up the visitor center. It was a very careful drive to the range where he blew it.

He's a deeply experienced practitioner who didn't second guess the team on the ground, just expressed surprise at the decision.

In downtown Nashville a large buried cache of 10" CSA shells was discovered by construction workers some years ago. An unknown number were taken home in the backs of pickups & cars… Washed out examples of the hoard can be seen as elements of a sculpture near where they were found… no doubt unnoticed by bachelorette parties going by in their matching cowgirl boots & hats.