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Oldest US firearm unearthed in Arizona, a bronze cannon linked to Coronado expedition

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Oldest US firearm unearthed in Arizona, a bronze cannon linked to Coronado expedition


(a) A bronze medieval-style wall or rampart gun was found at this Coronado expedition site in southern Arizona. It is 42 in (106.7 cm) long and weighs about 40 lb. The diameter of the bore is .95 in (24.7 mm) or 5 gauge. It could be fired with a solid round projectile or with buckshot. (b) The wall gun was resting on the floor of a Spanish structure. This figure shows it while under excavation, held firmly in place by roots. Credit: International Journal of Historical Archaeology (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s10761-024-00761-7

Independent researchers in Arizona have unearthed a bronze cannon linked to the Vázquez de Coronado expedition, making it the oldest firearm ever found in the continental United States. The discovery sheds new light on the artillery used during the 1539–1542 expedition into the American Southwest.

In the early 16th century, reports of wealthy cities north of Mexico sparked Spanish interest in further exploration. Inspired by the accounts of past conquistador raids and tales of the Seven Cities of Cíbola relayed by Fray Marcos de Niza, Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza organized an expedition led by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado in 1539.

Coronado, who mortgaged his wife’s possessions and borrowed heavily for the excursion, went in search of these legendary cities in hopes of stealing gold and precious stones, claiming land and enslaving large populations for forced labor.

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With 150 mounted soldiers, 200 infantrymen, and hundreds of native recruits, the expedition would ultimately face disappointment when the cities did not match the grandeur described. Instead of finding riches or large populations to enslave, the armed force mostly looted blankets and pottery from small Pueblo communities in the Southwest before turning back when they reached the Great Plains of Kansas.

In the study, “Coronado’s Cannon: A 1539–42 Coronado Expedition Cannon Discovered in Arizona,” published in the International Journal of Historical Archaeology, the team details a bronze cannon found at an excavation site in the Santa Cruz Valley of Arizona and how they connect it to Francisco Vázquez de Coronado.

The cannon was found on the floor of a Spanish stone-and-adobe structure, dated to the Coronado era using radiocarbon dating and optically stimulated luminescence techniques. Other artifacts recovered from the site align with the expedition, including European pottery and olive jar sherds, glass shards, and weapon parts.

Sometimes referred to as a wall gun, the unearthed cannon was an early type of firearm requiring two people to operate. Designed primarily for use along fortification walls, the expedition reportedly utilized them as an offensive weapon to breach wooden or light adobe walls of domestic dwellings in the cities they encountered.

Measuring 42 inches in length and weighing about 40 pounds, the cannon type would typically make use of a large wooden tripod. It shows evidence of being sand-cast with three sprue marks along the bottom axis and four iron pins used in the casting process. The plain and unadorned casting design suggests it may have been cast in Mexico or the Caribbean rather than Spain, where a more decorative approach was common.

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It is also suggested that the cannon could have been purchased from a previous Spanish expedition, possibly even from Ponce de León. The cannon was found unloaded and shows no evidence of use in the battle, raising questions about why it was left behind.

Historical accounts indicate that the local Sobaipuri O’odham people attacked the settlement, leading to the Spaniards retreating from the area. Clusters of lead shot and distinctive Sobaipuri arrowheads at the site reinforce the narrative of a confrontation.

This discovery provides the first known firearm from the Coronado expedition and offers insights into early Spanish-Native American interactions in the Southwest. Further analyses are planned to determine the gun’s exact origins and study other site artifacts.

More information:
Deni J. Seymour et al, Coronado’s Cannon: A 1539-42 Coronado Expedition Cannon Discovered in Arizona, International Journal of Historical Archaeology (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s10761-024-00761-7

© 2024 Science X Network

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Oldest US firearm unearthed in Arizona, a bronze cannon linked to Coronado expedition (2024, November 25)
retrieved 25 November 2024
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What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports

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What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports


The NFL’s legal tampering window is officially open, and it didn’t take long for the Arizona Cardinals to get in the mix.

A running list of the new names and familiar faces coming to Arizona in 2026:

New names on Cardinals roster this free agency

Kendrick Bourne

The former San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots wide receiver brings another body to Arizona’s wide receivers room that includes Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr.

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He’s got plenty of familiarity with new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur from their time together in San Francisco (2017-20). Bourne also spent a year with expected Cardinals starter Jacoby Brissett in 2024 with the Patriots.

The wide receiver caught 37 passes for 551 yards in 16 games played (eight starts) last year.

He’s now on board for two years in Arizona.

Isaac Seumalo

The guard spent the past three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a seven-season stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.

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He’s started 104 out of 125 games played and has spent time at both left and right guard during his NFL career.

According to Next Gen Stats, the guard allowed a 3.7% pressure rate last year. That was the lowest rate among all eligible guards in 2025.

Gardner Minshew

Minshew agreed to terms on a one-year deal on Monday.

He’s expected to back up expected starter Jacoby Brissett in 2026, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

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Coming off his seventh NFL season and first with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minshew appeared in four games (one start) last year. He completed 46.2% of his throws for 37 yards and an interception.

Before landing with the Chiefs, Minshew spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders (2024), Indianapolis Colts (2023), Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-20).

RB Tyler Allgeier

Allgeier comes over to Arizona on a reported two-year contract.

Before agreeing to terms on the $12.25 million deal with Arizona on Monday, Allgeier played four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

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He ran for 514 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries last year, while adding another 14 catches for 96 yards.

While he worked mostly behind Bijan Robinson the past three years, Allgeier did surpass the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie in 2022.

Familiar faces

L.J. Collier

Collier is back on a one-year deal.

The defensive lineman appeared in four games in 2025 due to a knee injury suffered in Week 2.

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He recorded six tackles and two QB hits in what was his third season with the team.

Roy Lopez

After a one-year stint with the Detroit Lions, Lopez is back with his hometown team on a reported two-year deal.

In 17 games played last year, he recorded two sacks, four tackles for loss and a pass defensed.

Before his time in Detroit, Lopez spent two seasons with Arizona from 2023-24. During that span, he registered a sack, six tackles for loss, three passes defensed and a forced fumble in 30 games played (21 starts).

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K Chad Ryland

Ryland is back on a one-year deal, the team announced.

Ryland went through plenty of struggles last season after a having a career year in 2024. His accuracy dropped from 87.5% in 2024 to 75.8% last season. He was especially inconsistent from 40 yards and on, compiling a 13-of-20 mark (65%). Inside 40 yards, though, Ryland was 12-of-13 (92.3%).

Arizona brought in kicker Josh Karty late in the year (more on him later), but Ryland never gave up his role and appeared in all 17 games.

A one-year deal isn’t going to break the bank by any means.

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P Blake Gillikin

The Cardinals must feel pretty good about where Gillikin is at in his recovering from a back injury last year with their signing of the punter to a one-year deal.

Before he went down five games into the season, the punter was leading the league in yards per punt with 51.7.

Not only that, across his five seasons (65 games) in the NFL, he holds the all-time record for yards per punt at 48.5.

Staying healthy is key for Gillikin, who also missed time in 2024 due to an ankle injury.

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RB James Conner

Technically not a free agent, Conner was a potential cut candidate given his contract.

But after reportedly revising his deal, Conner is returning for his sixth season with the Cardinals.

The running back brings plenty of leadership and a bruising running style to the mix.

He’s coming off an abbreviated 2025 (three games) due to an ankle injury but had rushed for a pair of 1,000-yard seasons the two years prior. He scored at least seven rushing touchdowns each season from 2022-24.

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CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

Much like Conner, Murphy-Bunting was another prime cut candidate due to his contract but reportedly revised his deal with Arizona as well.

Murphy-Bunting has a lot to prove after missing all of 2025 due to an injury suffered away from the team facility.

In his first season with the Cardinals, the cornerback recorded 52 tackles, three interceptions, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles across 15 starts.

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Arizona’s Jaden Bradley named Big 12 men’s basketball player of year

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Arizona’s Jaden Bradley named Big 12 men’s basketball player of year


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The Arizona men’s basketball team went 29-2 overall and 16-2 in the Big 12, winning the conference’s regular season title.

The Wildcats were rewarded for their dominance in the Big 12’s men’s basketball awards, which were announced on March 9.

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Arizona’s Jaden Bradley was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, while Tobe Awaka earned the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year award and coach Tommy Lloyd earned Coach of the Year accolades.

Bradley averaged 13.4 points and 4.6 assists. Awaka was the nation’s leading rebounder off the bench, averaging 9.7 rebounds and 9.9 points when entering the game as a reserve. Lloyd led Arizona to its first Big 12 regular-season title.

Arizona State was completely shut out of the awards, with Moe Odum not receiving honorable mention honors despite averaging 17.1 points per game and 5.9 assists per game for the Sun Devils.

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2026 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Awards

  • Player of the Year: Jaden Bradley, Arizona
  • Defensive Player of the Year: Flory Bidunga, Kansas
  • Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
  • Freshman of the Year: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
  • Newcomer of the Year: Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
  • Sixth Man Award: Tobe Awaka, Arizona*
  • Most Improved: Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
  • Coach of the Year: Tommy Lloyd, Arizona

All-Big 12 First Team

  • Jaden Bradley, Arizona
  • Brayden Burries, Arizona
  • Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
  • AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
  • Emanuel Sharp, Houston
  • Kingston Flemings, Houston*
  • Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
  • Flory Bidunga, Kansas
  • Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
  • JT Toppin, Texas Tech*

All-Big 12 Second Team

  • Richie Saunders, BYU
  • Baba Miller, Cincinnati
  • Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
  • Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
  • Darryn Peterson, Kansas

All-Big 12 Third Team

  • Koa Peat, Arizona
  • Cameron Carr, Baylor
  • Rob Wright, BYU
  • Themus Fulks, UCF
  • Xavier Edmonds, TCU

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention:

  • Arizona: Tobe Awaka
  • Baylor: Tounde Yessoufou
  • Cincinnati: Moustapha Thiam
  • Colorado: Isaiah Johnson
  • Houston: Joseph Tugler, Milos Uzan
  • Kansas: Melvin Council Jr.
  • Kansas State: PJ Haggerty
  • Oklahoma State: Parsa Fallah
  • TCU: David Punch
  • Texas Tech: Donovan Atwell
  • West Virginia: Honor Huff
  • Utah: Terrence Brown

All-Defensive Team

  • Jaden Bradley, Arizona
  • Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
  • Emanuel Sharp, Houston
  • Joseph Tugler, Houston
  • Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
  • Flory Bidunga, Kansas*

A tie resulted in an extra position on the team

All-Freshman Team

  • Brayden Burries, Arizona*
  • Koa Peat, Arizona
  • AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
  • Kingston Flemings, Houston*
  • Darryn Peterson, Kansas*

All-Newcomer Team

  • Cameron Carr, Baylor
  • Themus Fulks, UCF
  • Baba Miller, Cincinnati
  • Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
  • Donovan Atwell, Texas Tech

*- unanimous selection

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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Arizona gas prices rise above national average amid Middle East conflict

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Arizona gas prices rise above national average amid Middle East conflict


PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The average price of regular gasoline in Arizona surged more than 30 cents in just a few days, according to AAA, leaving the state’s average at around $3.84 per gallon as of Sunday. The national average stands at $3.45.

Arizona is now one of the most expensive states in the country to fill up, topping the national average by nearly 40 cents.

AAA said the war in Iran is affecting crude oil prices, which are now trading at more than $100 per barrel. Arizona’s Family also reported a slowdown in a major ship channel in the Middle East, adding further pressure to the market.

A seasonal factor is also contributing to the spike. The transition to summer-blend gasoline, which is required in spring, is driving prices higher as well.

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Drivers at a central Phoenix gas station said they were caught off guard by the rapid increase.

“I was appalled,” one driver said.

“It was ridiculous,” said another.

“That is a lot, especially in such a short period of time,” said Andrea Webb.

The gas station attendant said some drivers are limiting how much they spend per fill-up, putting in only $10 to $20 at a time. Others said they are actively searching for the lowest posted price.

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“I feel like I’m always on the hunt for whatever is the cheapest gas,” said Bailey Mitchell. “This was $4.09 versus $4.15, so I’ll take it.”

Not all drivers said they are cutting back.

“I’m gonna bite the bullet. I need gas in my car. I’ll fill it up,” said Webb.

ASU professor of supply chain management, Hitendra Chaturvedi, said oil prices could approach $130 per barrel if the war in Iran continues. That scenario could push Arizona gas prices close to $6 per gallon, the professor said. No timeline was given.

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