Rare swivel gun and cannon recovered off Kannur coast

A rare breech-loading swivel gun believed to date to the Portuguese period and a cannon recovered from the coastal waters of Ayikkara in Kannur during dredging operation. The weapon is now displayed at the Pazhassi Raja Archaeological Museum in Kozhikode | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A rare breech-loading swivel gun believed to date to the Portuguese period and a cannon were recovered from the coastal waters of Ayikkara in Kannur during dredging operation. They have been put on display at the Pazhassi Raja Archaeological Museum under the State Archaeology department after restoration.

The swivel gun, made of wrought iron and measuring 192 cm in overall length, had remained on the seabed for years, accumulating marine concretions that made it resemble a concrete pillar. The Archaeology department retrieved the weapon using a crane.

A rare breech-loading swivel gun believed to date to the Portuguese period and a cannon recovered from the coastal waters of Ayikkara in Kannur during dredging operation. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

K. Krishnaraj, archaeologist and officer-in-charge at the Pazhassi Raja Archaeological Museum, said the department had been informed of the find only recently, although the weapon had reportedly been lying at the site for some time.

“As soon as the discovery was brought to our attention, we went there, retrieved the gun using a crane and transported it to the museum. The restoration work has since been completed, and it is now on display,” he said.