Unexploded World War I mortars found at construction site, Washington police say

An archaeologist at a construction site reported finding unexploded military munitions, Washington police said.

The explosives found Tuesday, Feb. 25, appear to be mortar shells dating back to World War I, the Vancouver Police Department said in a Feb. 26 news release.

They were found during construction at Pearson Field, a municipal airport, police said.

A police bomb squad responded to assess the situation, cops said. They safely exploded the first mortar shell with the help of a U.S. Air Force explosive disposal team.

More mortar shells were found and destroyed Wednesday, Feb. 26, police said.

A mortar is a “portable, short-barreled, muzzle-loading artillery piece that fires explosive projectiles at low velocities, short ranges, and high, arcing trajectories,” according to Britannica.com.

Vancouver, Washington, is about a 165-mile drive south from Seattle.

This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 12:33 PM with the headline "Unexploded World War I mortars found at construction site, Washington police say."