Workers dredging Georgia's Savannah River found cannons that had vanished since the Revolutionary War; more than 200 years later, 19 were pulled from the water

Workers dredging Georgia's Savannah River found cannons that had vanished since the Revolutionary War; more than 200 years later, 19 were pulled from the water. The discovery happened during work to deepen a 40-mile section of the river. The first cannon appeared in 2021, followed by more finds through 2022. Archaeologists first considered a Civil War connection but later established that the weapons were from the late 1700s. Experts believe they were connected to British ships that were sunk during the Siege of Savannah in 1779. Seventeen cannons were later restored at Texas A&M and placed in an exhibition at the Savannah History Museum.

Cannons remained underwater for more than two centuries

The discovery began while crews were working on a project to deepen the Savannah River. The $973 million project covered a 40-mile section of the river. Workers used a clamshell dredger to remove mud from the riverbed. During the work, the machine brought up a large cannon covered with rust and sediment. Two more cannons were found soon afterward. By the following year, the recovery had reached 19 cannons.


Each cannon weighs more than 1,000 pounds. Some were still loaded when they were recovered from the riverbed. The condition of the weapons raised questions about how they reached the bottom of the river. Archaeologists began examining the artifacts and the surrounding area to identify their origin.

Workers dredging Georgia's Savannah River found cannons that had vanished since the Revolutionary War

The first explanation was that the cannons could have come from a Civil War-era ship that sank in the area. Further investigation showed that the weapons were older. Experts determined that the cannons dated to the Revolutionary War period. Radiocarbon testing was later conducted on wooden stoppers found with the weapons. The results placed the material in the late 1700s.

The discovery also led archaeologists to examine the history of British ships that were sunk in the Savannah River during the American Revolution. Officials stopped dredging after the first discoveries and shifted attention toward finding more artifacts.

Divers surveyed the area, but poor visibility made the work difficult. Experts then used sonar technology to locate about a dozen more cannons. Dredging resumed in 2022, and several additional cannons were recovered.

What happened during the Siege of Savannah?

British forces occupied Savannah beginning in late 1778. In the following year, American forces joined with French troops in an attempt to regain control of the city. British forces saw the French fleet approaching the Georgia coast. Historical accounts state that the fleet could be seen from the mouth of the Savannah River near Tybee Island.

The British response included sinking ships in the river. The purpose was to create underwater obstacles that could interfere with the movement of the French fleet. One of the ships believed to have been scuttled was the HMS Savannah.

The battle that followed became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Revolutionary War. American and French troops gathered during heavy fog. When the fog cleared, the troops were exposed to British forces. Hundreds of American and French soldiers were killed or wounded during the fighting.

Were the cannons from the HMS Savannah?

The origin of all 19 cannons has not been confirmed. Researchers initially considered the HMS Rose, another British ship that was scuttled in 1779. Further research showed that the Rose sank farther upstream and that the recovered artillery was not associated with that vessel.

Attention then shifted to the HMS Savannah. Stephen James, maritime director of the Commonwealth Heritage Group, which assisted with the search, said in 2022 that he believed the cannons could have come from the Savannah. However, he also said there was no evidence of the rest of the vessel at the location.

The lack of markings on the cannons means researchers cannot definitively assign all of them to a specific ship. The loaded condition of some weapons provided another clue. Researchers suggested that the cannons may have been aboard a vessel that sank quickly.

What else was found in the river?

The cannons were not the only artifacts recovered from the area. Archaeologists also found fragments from anchors and pieces of a bronze vessel bell. None of these objects carried markings that could identify a particular ship. The ships that were scuttled during the Revolutionary War had decayed over the centuries. Only some artifacts remained in the riverbed.

The surviving objects provide evidence about the vessels and the events that took place in Savannah during the war. Christopher Hendricks, a historian at Georgia Southern University, said there is little remaining material evidence showing what happened in Savannah during this period.

How were the cannons restored?

Two cannons were placed on display at the Savannah History Museum in 2021. They remained covered with rust and sediment. After specialists determined that the loaded cannons did not present a safety hazard, the other 17 were transferred to a conservation laboratory at Texas A&M University.

Experts spent several years working on the artifacts. The conservation process was needed because the cannons had remained underwater for more than 200 years. Seventeen restored cannons later became part of the exhibition “Loyalists & Liberty” at the Savannah History Museum. The exhibition examines Georgia's role in the American Revolution.

The restored cannons are displayed alongside the two cannons that remain covered with sediment. This arrangement allows visitors to see both the condition in which some of the weapons were found and the results of the conservation work.

Why will the cannons remain in Savannah?

The discovery attracted interest from both the federal government and the British government. Officials eventually agreed that the cannons would remain in Savannah. One reason was the limited number of surviving artifacts connected to Georgia's period before the Civil War. The cannons therefore provide physical evidence connected to the Revolutionary War and the Siege of Savannah. The artifacts also give historians an opportunity to examine an event that affected American, French and British forces in Georgia.

When can visitors see the Revolutionary War cannons?

The 17 restored cannons went on public display on July 2, 2026, as part of “Loyalists & Liberty” at the Savannah History Museum. The exhibition also includes the two cannons that still have sediment covering their surfaces.

Visitors can therefore see the restored weapons and the two unrestored examples together. The recovery began with a dredging machine removing mud from the Savannah River. It eventually led to the recovery of 19 weapons that had remained underwater for more than 200 years.