Lead Cannonball?

[Desert Rat]

Found this lead item in Calif. along the Old Spanish Trail. It's round, slightly flattened on one side & about 2" in dia. From a site that could be Spanish, Mexican or American period. Has anyone seen or found something similar? Can anyone help me date it?

[JCR]

Could be a palm guard.

[Bob S.]

JCR's suggestion of a "palm guard" could suggest it may have been lost by someone who worked on a ship mending sails. I know the style of needle used back then was long and thick and pushing them through multiple layers of canvas was not easy I would imagine. It would require more force than fingers could supply. That thickness of lead would definitely keep the needle from skewering the palm of your hand! The Spaniards didn't drive over here! 😉

The other item of lead I see is a damaged clothing or hem weight usually sewn internally on women's clothing to reduce wrinkling. The center cross-bar is where the hand-stitching takes place... Tough one to date early innovation though! Some do carry size (weight) designations, but those might be from the 1800's. I think this innovation is still even manufactured today.

Revisiting the larger lead again... It almost looks like lead poured from a spoon and drying quickly in whatever vessel used to contain it... Possibly from Musketball molding. It might simply be the remains of a brass ornament used to adorn horse furniture. Usually that would have a wire embedded in the casting for attachment though, similar to a lead filled Civil War cartridge box plate. Keep hunting, you may be on to something good like Spanish gold and silver coinage! 

[Fredneck]

Very well could be a lead grapeshot ball, the size is right.