Five musket balls found in Concord at the site of the Revolutionary War
UNITY — These shots may have been among those that “went around the world,” but their remains were not found for nearly 250 years.
Five musket balls dating to the beginning of the Revolutionary War were recently excavated by archaeologists in Minute Man National Historical Park.
“Although the National Park Service and our partners work diligently to identify and protect natural resources and historical artifacts, the archaeological team was not specifically looking for musket balls when they found them,” Mark Powell, a public affairs specialist for the Park Service, told Wicked Local.
He said the musket balls were discovered during what he called “compliance activities” in preparation for the park’s Great American Outdoors Act project.
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However, Minute Man has now initiated additional archaeological research to determine whether there are more musket balls in the 967-hectare park, Powell said.
Musket balls are said to have been used by the colonial militia in 1775
Based on early analysis of the musket balls, it is believed that they were used by colonial militia firing on British soldiers during the Battle of North Bridge on April 19, 1775. This event, which sparked the Revolutionary War, was immortalized in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s 1837 Concord Hymn as “The Shot That Went Round the World.”
According to Powell, the musket balls were found on the east side of the Concord River in Minute Man National Historical Park, in an area where British soldiers had formed up to resist militia crossing the river.
It was discovered that each of the musket balls was fired from across the river and was not ejected during reloading.
Retelling of the Battle of the North Bridge in 1775
The events of April 19, 1775 are celebrated as the Battle of Lexington and Concord.
For generations, schoolchildren have been told the story of Paul Revere and other Midnight Riders who traveled from Boston to Lexington warning that hundreds of British troops were marching toward Concord. Their warnings enabled the militia to meet the British soldiers on Lexington Green and fight before the British advanced with reinforcements to the North Bridge.
About 100 British soldiers remained at the bridge while other companies marched to the farm of Col. James Barrett, who probably had a supply of ammunition.
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When the militiamen saw smoke rising from the direction of the town, they advanced to the bridge, fearing that the British would burn their houses. When the British fired, the militia returned fire, with the famous words of Concord’s Major John Buttrick: “Fire, comrades, for God’s sake, fire!”
The British retreated to Concord.
The North Bridge event was a crucial turning point in the Battles of Lexington and Concord and ultimately helped push the British back to Boston. It is considered one of the most significant events in American history.
Visitors can view the musket balls today and learn more about “the shot that went around the world” during the park’s Archaeology Day events:
North Bridge Visitor Center (174 Liberty St., Concord)
- 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: The public can view the musket balls on display at the North Bridge Visitor Center. Visitors can speak with park curators about the musket balls and the science behind their preservation.
- 2:30 p.m.: North Bridge Battle Walk. Visitors can join park rangers on an interactive walk to trace the footsteps and archaeological finds of those who fought at the North Bridge on April 19, 1775.
Minute Man Visitor Center (210 North Great Road, Lincoln)
- 11 a.m.: “Investigating Sacred Ground: Battlefield Archaeology at Minute Man National Historical Park,” with Joel Dukes of the National Park Service’s Northeast Region Archaeology Program.
- 1:00 p.m.: “Guns, Ammunition and Archaeology: A Scientific Look at April 19, 1775,” with Joel Bohy, Director of Historic Guns and Militaria at Blackstone Valley Auctions.
Powell reiterated that it is illegal for the public to use metal detectors in national parks. In addition, removing or tampering with archaeological resources in a national park is a federal crime.
“This is important to remember because once a musket ball or other object is moved, it is removed from its context and loses all meaning,” Powell said. “This is why trained archaeologists conduct investigations using precise scientific methods.”
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