Old cannon loaded with details of city's past

Local experts are expecting to learn more about the past by studying the city's latest artillery finding, which was dug up last week from Huangpu River after workers discovered it while clearing sediments from the waters.

With a firing range of some 200 meters, the nearly two-meter-long iron cannon that weighs about 800 kilograms is believed to date back roughly 130 years to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to an initial study of the weapon by experts, said Xue Liyong, a retired researcher from Shanghai History Museum, who was asked to help identify the artillery.

"Although there have been 20 cannons discovered in the city from this period, this is the first one found in a downtown area, which makes this a more valuable find," he told the Global Times Sunday. "A careful study of this weapon and the surrounding area may tell us more about the old days."

Xue said that the artillery must have fallen into the river from a boat since no artillery battles were recorded along the river.

"Historical data confirms that there used to be navy officers patrolling the river," he said. "So, it's possible that the cannon could have fallen into the river, but we have no idea how that could have happened."

Shenjiang company workers, who were cleaning the waters of sedimentary buildup on Thursday, were the first to find the artillery, which is expected to be showcased later at a local museum previously planned to be built by the district to house other relics.

Shanghai History Museum has some of the 20 artilleries previously found in the city on display, while the other ones are spread out at several district museums around town.