Cannonball / Shot Put / What is this

[cdahms]

I found this on Saturday digging up some old bricks on our property. We recently just built this house and still have a lot of yard work to do. I found this about 15 ft from the road. The house across the street was built in 1815 and is made of brick, so I assume the bricks I dug up were from the house across the street. I believe the ball is cast iron. It is magnetic, and I believe it is solid. I found it buried about 8 inches in the ground. Dimensions of the ball are 5 inches round and 16.15 lbs. Could it be from pre civil war era.

 

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[FreeBirdTim]

I'm no expert, but it reminds me of a hammer throw weight. You know, the type they have in track and field competitions. Maybe the chain attached to where that small hole is located? Just a guess...

 

[Icewing]

I'm thinking it's an old Shotput since the standard set for the first modern olympics was 16 lbs.
I am unfamiliar with 16 lb cannon, though I don't discount the possibility, since I'm also not an expert on balls.

 

[No gold in NY]

May be a help if you listed the size and weight. BTW, welcome to TreasureNet.

 

[Chadeaux]

Cannon bore, shot, and shell diameters for smoothbore guns

24 pounder

Weight: 16.8 pounds

Diameter: 5.68 inches

I'd say close enough to be VERY CAREFUL.

 

[chatterbait]

Cool find.Now what do you do?Keep us posted.

 

[Limitool]

cdahms: Hello and welcome to T-Net. I was born and raised in Constantine till age 36. Then moved to Tennessee, retired and live on a ridge top in a rural county in middle TN. I wish I was back up there to help you MD more of your area.... Have no idea on what you found but I wish ya the best moving forward... Brad

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Where's the guy who's the cannonball expert? Now what's his name...

 

[zerry]

I have ball bearings from an old mine about that size maybe a ball bearing

 

[bone2stone]

I have ball bearings from an old mine about that size maybe a ball bearing

BINGO!!!

Jess B.

 

[ARC]