“A Surprising Find: Civil War-Era Cannonball Unearthed in Virginia Backyard Sparks Bomb Squad Response”
Civil War-Era
Recently, while enhancing the curb appeal of a Virginia home, a landscaper stumbled upon an unexpected discovery that prompted a call to bomb technicians.
As the landscaper dug a hole for a shrub, he uncovered what appeared to be a rock, later identified as a cannonball, as Perry Weller, deputy chief of community risk and reduction with the City of Staunton Fire and Rescue, informed Fox News Digital.
Upon realizing the nature of the discovery, the home’s real estate agent wasted no time in seeking professional assistance.
Weller and his team swiftly arrived at the scene and recognized the object as a projectile resembling a cannonball.
The cannonball remained embedded in the ground upon their arrival, prompting Weller to caution against handling it until properly assessed.
Given the location and historical context of Staunton, Virginia, Weller and his team surmise that the cannonball likely dates back to the Civil War era.
Exercise caution around unknown objects, Weller emphasized, urging individuals not to disturb them unnecessarily.
Acknowledging the potential risk, Weller enlisted the aid of the Virginia State Police Bomb Technicians to evaluate the projectile for any active or live components.
This incident marks Weller’s second encounter with a stray Civil War-era projectile in Virginia within six years.
When encountering such objects, Weller advises against moving them and emphasizes the importance of promptly contacting emergency services for professional assistance in identification and removal.
