THERE may be more to the history of Penang’s Fort Cornwallis with the recent discovery of cannons and live ammunition at the two-century old British fort, said archaeologists from Universiti Sains Malaysia.

The team has since dug up four cannons, a number of cannonballs, mortar, live bullets, and even an old lorry track.

Prof Mokhtar Saidin from USM’s Centre for Global Archaeological Research (CGAR) said the excavation of four cannons, a number of cannonballs, mortar, live bullets and even an old lorry track were giving experts a clearer picture of the functions and activities of the fort.

“We found many used cannonballs in recent excavations. This means the fort was used in combat. It was not just a symbolic fort,” he told reporters at USM today.

“We also found live bullets in bags near the open space that was used as a parking lot, and a lorry track in front of the barracks. Those are likely from the Japanese occupation era.

“As we go along, we hope to uncover the layers of the fort’s history from its British days to modern times.”

Fort Cornwallis, which overlooks the sea, in George Town, was built in 1786 by the British East India Company.

It is the largest standing fort in Malaysia, and was previously thought to have never been used in battle.

In February last year, a USM team of archaeologists found the first two cannons – weighing 1,500kg and 1,738kg and measuring 2.2m and 2.35m in length – buried in the fort’s moat. Nine cannonballs were also found in the same trench days later.

The cannons, believed to be over 200 years old and made during the reign of King George III, were sent to USM for conservation works in March last year.

Conservation works on the first two cannons have been completed and they will be handed over to the Penang government, while works on the other two cannons would begin next month either at USM or at the fort.

Mokhtar said the conservation will likely take a year to complete, depending on the condition of the artefacts, which are also believed to be about 200 years old.

He said they are still trying to find out why the cannons had ended up in the moat, adding that history records state that Fort Cornwallis originally had 140 cannons – with most unaccounted for today.

The archaeological expert said the excavation and its discoveries will also add value to Penang’s tourism, especially to the old fort as a destination to see, adding that all archaeological sites in the world can be accessed by the public if they write in to seek permission to participate.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow agreed that opening up to allow the public to see the conservation while the excavation proceeds will be a special experience for local and foreign visitors.

USM’s CGAR is said to be the best archaeological institution in the country with its multidisciplinary research, and conservation and preservation programmes.

USM has been involved in researches on Fort Cornwallis since the 1990s when conservators from the Housing, Building and Planning School conducted a pilot conservation programme at the site. – May 10, 2019.