{"id":82985,"date":"2024-08-07T22:16:36","date_gmt":"2024-08-07T22:16:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/07\/anthropologists-quest-to-save-an-alamo-cannon\/"},"modified":"2024-08-07T22:16:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T22:16:36","slug":"anthropologists-quest-to-save-an-alamo-cannon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/07\/anthropologists-quest-to-save-an-alamo-cannon\/","title":{"rendered":"Anthropologists&#8217; Quest To Save An Alamo Cannon"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Jan Bartek &#8211; AncientPages.com &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong> The Alamo, a significant landmark in Texas history, houses numerous historical artifacts from its eventful past. One notable item in its collection is a distinctive battle cannon that has recently undergone a comprehensive preservation initiative. This effort was spearheaded by specialists from the Department of Anthropology at Texas A&amp;M University. The preservation project highlights the ongoing commitment to maintaining and protecting important historical relics, ensuring that future generations can continue to learn from and appreciate these tangible connections to Texas&#8217; heritage.<\/p>\n<p>The initiative, recently highlighted in an episode of Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast, hosted by Emily Baucum, came to life when Alamo Senior Researcher and Historian Kolby Lanham approached Dr. Christopher Dostal, an assistant professor of anthropology at Texas A&amp;M, and Kimberly Breyfogle \u201923, a Ph.D. student in the Nautical Archaeology Program, to collaborate on the project.<\/p>\n<p><center><br \/><iframe title=\"Episode 37: Preserving Battle Cannons\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ocQmyEHzzyQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/center>\u201cOur lab primarily deals with material from underwater archaeological sites, and because so many things that are underwater happen to be ships, we deal with a lot of cannons,\u201d said Dostal, a former submarine sailor in the U.S. Navy who also serves as director of the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&amp;M. \u201cIt was a natural fit for us to help out with the Alamo project.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon.jpg\" class=\"gallery_colorbox\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-107677\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon.jpg\" alt=\"Anthropologists' Quest To Save An Alamo Cannon\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Alamo Museum staff adjust the cannon in the display area. Courtesy of Alamo Trust Inc.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Unique Challenge<br \/>The cannon in question, a bronze four-pounder cast in Mexico, was used in several key battles during its lifetime \u2014 including the Battle of Medina in 1813 and the Battle of Concepci\u00f3n in 1835 \u2014 and ultimately saw action during the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. However, this artifact has recently faced a unique challenge: a white, chalky substance growing on its surface, a phenomenon that had not been observed in other bronze cannons.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve spent the better part of a year and a half trying to work out why this substance is growing,\u201d Dostal revealed. \u201cIt turns out, this might be a byproduct of the chemicals used in the cannon\u2019s conservation process back in 2008 and again in 2019. The substance is a precipitate of these chemicals starting to crop up on the outside of the cannon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To replicate the results, Dostal and Breyfogle created their own bronze blocks with a composition resembling that of the cannon. They then applied identical methods and treatments to these blocks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a rare occurrence, and we spent a large amount of time figuring out the exact cause,\u201d Breyfogle said.<\/p>\n<p>The breakthrough came courtesy of a dilute solution of formic acid, which effectively removed the chalky deposits that formed on the cannon\u2019s surface without damaging the underlying metal. The team applied this solution to the cannon, using a tennis ball on a stick as their weapon of choice and watching as the white substance essentially vanished on contact.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon2.jpg\" class=\"gallery_colorbox\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-107678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon2.jpg\" alt=\"Anthropologists' Quest To Save An Alamo Cannon\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon2.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon2-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>The Alamo cannon, post-acid solution treatment, which rapidly removed the carbonate blooms. Courtesy of Alamo Trust Inc.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was pretty cool watching their work, because almost the moment they put that formic acid onto the cannon, you could see that white substance practically disappear,\u201d Baucum said.<\/p>\n<p>Preserving the cannon involved more than just cosmetic concerns. Had the substance been left unchecked, Dostal noted, it could have not only impacted how historical items are visually appreciated in museums, but also raised concerns about the substance\u2019s potential long-term effects.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t know the long-term side effects of letting the substance grow on the cannon,\u201d Dostal said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/today.tamu.edu\/2024\/07\/31\/texas-ams-quest-to-save-an-alamo-cannon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">press release<\/a>. \u201cIn this scenario, we did not want to find out through inaction.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Remember The Alamo<\/h2>\n<p>Lanham noted that the work conducted by the Texas A&amp;M team highlights the importance of ongoing preservation efforts at the Alamo.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWithout the stories and the artifacts, and the people that went along with those stories, we just have a building with stuff in it,\u201d Lanham explained. \u201cThis is what brings everything full circle. It\u2019s fantastic when a group of experts comes down and takes the time to work on something so precious to us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Because the team\u2019s work on the cannon occurred during regular museum hours, enabling numerous school groups to observe the process, Lanham says their preservation efforts also had an invaluable educational impact, inspiring the next generation of historians and conservationists.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon3.jpg\" class=\"gallery_colorbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-107679\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon3.jpg\" alt=\"Anthropologists' Quest To Save An Alamo Cannon\" width=\"700\" height=\"495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon3.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon3-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon3-140x100.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Texas A&amp;M anthropologist and nautical archaeologist Dr. Chris Dostal, swabbing the bore of the Alamo cannon. Courtesy of Alamo Trust Inc.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Lanham added, \u201cYou could have turned some of those kids into historians just by witnessing the A&amp;M team\u2019s work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon4.jpg\" class=\"gallery_colorbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-107680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon4.jpg\" alt=\"Anthropologists' Quest To Save An Alamo Cannon\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon4.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/alamocannon4-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>The Texas A&amp;M team working on the cannon (l-r): Marissa Agerton \u201925, Alyssa Carpenter \u201922, Kimberly Breyfogle \u201923 and Dr. Chris Dostal, who is applying the team\u2019s acid solution to the tennis ball applicator. Courtesy of Alamo Trust Inc.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The Texas A&amp;M team\u2019s conservation efforts extend far beyond the Alamo. Breyfogle is currently\u00a0researching acid generation in conserved materials from the 17th century shipwreck\u00a0La Belle\u00a0 in the Bullock State history museum in Austin. Meanwhile, Dostal and his team at the Conservation Research Lab are tackling numerous projects, including work on the Revolutionary War gunboat Philadelphia, remnants of 18th century shipwrecks found in New York and Virginia, Native American canoes and even still-loaded 18th century cannons recovered from the Savannah River in Georgia. Yet, the significance of their work on the Alamo cannon remains profound.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think we as a people are defined by the stories we tell each other,\u201d Dostal said. \u201cThings like the Alamo are physical evidence of those stories. It\u2019s an incredible privilege to assist in preserving the history of the Alamo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Written by Jan Bartek &#8211; AncientPages.com <\/strong>Staff Writer<\/p>\n<p><span id=\"tbmarker\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><script async defer crossorigin=\"anonymous\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&#038;version=v8.0&#038;appId=1629370863982098&#038;autoLogAppEvents=1\" nonce=\"QZiG0y67\"><\/script><script>(function(d, s, id) {\n  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];\n  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;\n  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;\n  js.src = \"\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.4\";\n  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);\n}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/2024\/08\/07\/anthropologists-quest-to-save-an-alamo-cannon\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jan Bartek &#8211; AncientPages.com &#8211;\u00a0 The Alamo, a significant landmark in Texas history, houses numerous historical artifacts from its eventful past. One notable item in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":82986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[161],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-82985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82985"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82985\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}