European cannonball

[rknubben]

Gentlemen,

I have recently found a cannonball near the citywalls of Maastricht (the Netherlands). It weighs approx. 4.9 kg. (small bits missing), and its diameter varies between 10.2 and 10.8 cm (not sure whether this variation is due to manufacturing, or impact). The city was laid siege to by Spanish, French, English, Austrian and Dutch armies in the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries (pretty much non-stop), so it’s rather hard for me to guess its origin and age.

Would anybody based on this info and the pictures be able to make an educated guess?

Best regards,

Richard Knubben

 

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[Oddjob]

Cool find Richard, the user Cannonballguy should be able to help you out.

 

[sutphin]

NICE BALL.

 

[smokeythecat]

I'm not sure how much you cleaned it, but only with minor surface pitting, it was either in extremely good soil or is 19th century. An older ball would show its age.

 

[rknubben]

I'm not sure how much you cleaned it, but only with minor surface pitting, it was either in extremely good soil or is 19th century. An older ball would show its age.

I had it cleaned and oiled by someone who specialises in metal restoration. The last siege Maastricht sustained with cannon was when Napoleon paid us a visit in 1794, so it couldn't be newer than that. But isn't it much too small to be from the Napoleonic era?