Historic musket balls fired at British in 1770s found in Concord, Massachusetts, park

FROM CONCORD. ARE IN A TOWN STEEPED IN TRADITION, WHERE REENACTMENTS BRING HISTORY TO LIFE. ARCHEOLOGISTS JUST UNEARTH LIVING ARCHIVES NOT SEEN IN 250 YEARS. REALLY. WE’RE LOOKING AT A FEW SECONDS, 250 YEARS AGO THAT LITERALLY CHANGED THE WORLD, PARK RANGER JARED FOOSE SAYS. WHILE SURVEYING FOR A FUTURE PROJECT. THEY DISCOVERED THESE MUSKET BALLS DATING BACK TO A MOMENT WE ALL KNOW. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NORTH BRIDGE, WE DISCOVERED FIVE MUSKET BALLS THAT WERE FIRED IN THAT VERY BLINK OF AN EYE MOMENT LATER, TITLED THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD, WHERE THE NORTH BRIDGE CROSSES THE CONCORD RIVER. THESE TINY RELICS WERE FOUND IN SCIENTIFICALLY ANALYZED TO HAVE BEEN THE SHOTS HEARD ROUND THE WORLD, SPARKING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. THE MUSKET BALLS THEMSELVES, WE BELIEVE, WERE FIRED BY PROVINCIAL MILITIA SOLDIERS ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 19TH, 1775, AT BRITISH REGULAR SOLDIERS WHO WERE TASKED WITH GUARDING THE NORTH BRIDGE HERE BEHIND ME. THAT MOMENT IS LATER TERMED THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD, BECAUSE IT’S THE FIRST MOMENT THAT THE MILITIA ARE ACTUALLY ORDERED TO FIRE AT THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS. AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THIS IS A CIVIL WAR. I’M REALLY SURPRISED THAT THEY FOUND THEM. THAT’S AMAZING. YEAH, IT’S GREAT THAT WE CAN FIND THESE THINGS STILL. THIS IS THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD. THESE BALLS ARE THE SHOTS FIRED. VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP PRESERVE LEXINGTON AND CONCORD’S HISTORY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS. IF YOU READ THE BOOKS AND YOU HEAR THE STORIES, BUT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET TO SEE THESE AND THEY COME OUT OF THE GROUND AND THEY’VE BEEN THERE FOR 250 YEARS FROM THE MOMENT OF THAT BATTLE TO THIS DAY, IT’S REALLY ASTOUNDING. AND THOSE MUSKET BALLS WILL BE ON DISPLAY HERE AT THE NORTH BRIDGE VISITOR CENTER, STARTING SATURDAY AT MINUTEMAN NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK IN CONCORD, SHAUN CHAIYABHAT.

Five musket balls that were fired during the event known as "The Shot Heard Round the World" on April 19, 1775, were recently discovered at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts. National Park Service archeologists discovered the musket balls while conducting compliance activities in preparation for the park’s Great American Outdoors Act project. According to the National Park Service, early analysis of the 18th-century musket balls indicates they were fired by colonial militia members at British forces during the North Bridge fight. The North Bridge battle site is a key location within the National Historical Park and marks the moment when provincial militia leaders ordered members to fire upon their own government’s soldiers for the first time. The event, which escalated an already boiling conflict between colonial rebels and British forces, was later called "The Shot Heard Round the World" by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his 1837 Concord Hymn.According to the National Park Service, the musket balls were found in an area where British soldiers reportedly formed up to resist the river crossing. Video: Patriots' Day reenactment held in LexingtonPark officials say further analysis of the musket balls indicates that each one was fired from the opposite side of the river and not dropped during the process of reloading."These musket balls can be considered collectively as ‘The Shot Heard Round the World,’ and it is incredible that they have survived this long," Minute Man Park Ranger and historic weapons specialist Jarrad Fuoss said in a news release. "It’s incredible that we can stand here and hold what amounts to just a few seconds of history that changed the world almost 250 years ago."Visitors can view the musket balls and learn more about "The Shot Heard Round the World" on Saturday, July 13, during the park’s Archeology Day events.The musket balls will be on display this Saturday at the North Bridge Visitor Center. Visitors can talk to park curators about the musket balls and the science behind preserving them.Each year on Patriots Day, the events of that day, known collectively as the Battle of Lexington and Concord, are commemorated.On that day, roughly 800 British soldiers marched from Boston to Concord to destroy military supplies that colonial rebels had gathered. Thousands of militia members intercepted the British advance thanks to a system of midnight riders who gave warning the night before. Learn about the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution at Minute Man National Historical Park visit.

CONCORD, Mass. —

National Park Service archeologists discovered the musket balls while conducting compliance activities in preparation for the park’s Great American Outdoors Act project.

According to the National Park Service, early analysis of the 18th-century musket balls indicates they were fired by colonial militia members at British forces during the North Bridge fight.

The North Bridge battle site is a key location within the National Historical Park and marks the moment when provincial militia leaders ordered members to fire upon their own government’s soldiers for the first time.

The event, which escalated an already boiling conflict between colonial rebels and British forces, was later called "The Shot Heard Round the World" by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his 1837 Concord Hymn.

According to the National Park Service, the musket balls were found in an area where British soldiers reportedly formed up to resist the river crossing.

Video: Patriots' Day reenactment held in Lexington

Park officials say further analysis of the musket balls indicates that each one was fired from the opposite side of the river and not dropped during the process of reloading.

"These musket balls can be considered collectively as ‘The Shot Heard Round the World,’ and it is incredible that they have survived this long," Minute Man Park Ranger and historic weapons specialist Jarrad Fuoss said in a news release. "It’s incredible that we can stand here and hold what amounts to just a few seconds of history that changed the world almost 250 years ago."

Visitors can view the musket balls and learn more about "The Shot Heard Round the World" on Saturday, July 13, during the park’s Archeology Day events.

The musket balls will be on display this Saturday at the North Bridge Visitor Center. Visitors can talk to park curators about the musket balls and the science behind preserving them.

Each year on Patriots Day, the events of that day, known collectively as the Battle of Lexington and Concord, are commemorated.

On that day, roughly 800 British soldiers marched from Boston to Concord to destroy military supplies that colonial rebels had gathered. Thousands of militia members intercepted the British advance thanks to a system of midnight riders who gave warning the night before.

Learn about the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution at Minute Man National Historical Park visit.

Historic musket balls fired at British in 1770s found in Concord, Massachusetts, park

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