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 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.

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.

The recovery and restoration were completed within two months of the department being informed of the find, he said. However, the exact date on which the weapon was discovered during the dredging operations was not known, he added.

The discovery is historically significant as Ayikkara is located close to Fort St. Angelo, the Portuguese fort at Kannur.

“The find offers an opportunity to explore the region’s maritime history and its association with Portuguese naval activities along the Malabar Coast,” Mr. Krishnaraj said.

He added that the swivel gun represents an important category of artillery used in maritime warfare. Unlike larger cannons mounted on ships, swivel guns were relatively small and lightweight weapons fixed to pivoting or rotating supports, allowing them to be aimed in different directions. They could be operated by a small crew and were used to engage enemy personnel and small boats at close range.

Such weapons were employed in maritime and military contexts from the late medieval period into the 19th century. Smaller artillery pieces gained importance in naval warfare during the 15th and 16th centuries, when European powers expanded their maritime activities.

Mr. Krishnaraj explained that breech-loading artillery marked an important development in the evolution of firearms. While conventional muzzle-loading guns required gunpowder and projectiles to be inserted through the front of the barrel, breech-loading weapons allowed ammunition to be loaded from the rear.

“In some early breech-loading swivel guns, removable chambers could be prepared in advance, enabling quicker reloading when spare chambers were available. This was particularly useful aboard ships and in confined defensive positions, where reloading under enemy fire could be difficult,” he said.

Mr. Krishnaraj said swivel guns also formed part of the artillery carried by Portuguese vessels during the expansion of Portuguese maritime power from the late 15th century. Portuguese ships, including caravels, carracks, and galleons, sailed along the African coast and across the Indian Ocean, carrying artillery of different sizes. Swivel guns were primarily intended for close-range engagements rather than for attacking large enemy vessels. Mounted on forked or pivoting supports, they could be rapidly turned towards approaching targets.

The recovered gun has a long iron tiller or handle extending from the rear of its rectangular breech chamber. Measuring approximately 48 cm, the tiller would have helped the operator manoeuvre and position the weapon.