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500 medieval cannonballs unearthed at Belgium construction site

Archaeologists in Nieuwpoort have uncovered around 500 medieval cannonballs during construction work, dating from 1350 to 1600 AD. The discovery highlights the town’s historic military significance, with evidence also appearing in a 1641 map by Antonius Sanderus showing artillery near the excavation site

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The medieval cannonballs. PIC COURTESY/Group Van Vooren

The medieval cannonballs. PIC COURTESY/Group Van Vooren

The construction of a new administrative building in Nieuwpoort, Belgium, took an unexpected and humourous turn as archaeologists found a cache of 500 medieval cannonballs. The high-quality finish led archaeologists to believe they were intended for firearms. 

The cannonballs varied in size, suggesting that Nieuwpoort had a diverse arsenal. A cannon is even depicted on a map drawn by Antonius Sanderus in 1641, close to the excavation site. The artifacts that primarily made of natural stone are dated to between 1350 and 1600 AD.

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