How do you know if you found a fragment of civil war artillery?

[Michael12488]

I found this at 4.5 to 5 inches deep in middle ga clay about 25 miles from a major battle area. It has a slight arduous and is about .116 thick +\~ .06. Does anyone know how to tell if it is an artillery fragment?

 

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[mindcrime1988]

I don't know much about Civil War fragmentation or shrapnel but from my many WWII finds, they are usually jagged and most of the time of no particular shape. If you found this near a battlefield, chances are it is shrapnel but perhaps somebody else can help you identify this better than me.

 

[Michael12488]

Thanks for the reply Mindcrime1988

 

[gdigga]

Looks a little thin, how think is it?

 

[rovnrbl53]

Looks too thin and not enough curvature. Here's a cutaway of a partially exploded parrott shell, probably the most common CW artillery shell.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cut...agearchive.com%2Fitems%2FB137738.html;271;584

 

[EODsmitty]

there are publications that are used to ID fragments. But most cases it requires finding where the rotating band was on the ordnance. The groves under the rotating bands is like a finger print of sorts. Every size projectile is diffrent. By counting the number of groves per inch, fragments can be identified. This is for turn of the century ordnanace. It could be a part of a canister round. The pusher plates on these were not as thick as HE frag rounds. Here is a grape shot, look at the thickness of the plates. http://www.prices4antiques.com/Munitions-Grape-Shot-Stand-Civil-War-Era-Union-12-Pound-D9982464.html