Stolen Treasures, Tainted Intentions: The Curious Case of the Civil War Cannonballs The discovery of five stolen Civil War era cannonballs hidden in a passenger's suitcase at Gulf Shores International Airport has sparked questions about the value we place on history and the motivations behind those who seek to exploit it.
At first glance, the story appears to be a lighthearted tale of a TSA officer's unexpected encounter with a pair of stolen cannonballs.
However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that there is more to this story than meets the eye. The passenger, who had purchased the cannonballs at a roadside stand, was unaware of their true provenance.