From Seafloor to Science: Conservation of 17th-Century Naval Artillery

A cannon recovered from Panama's historic waters rests in a conservation tank, where controlled chemical treatments will stabilize the metal after centuries underwater. This meticulous conservation process, conducted at Patronato Panamá Viejo's laboratory, ensures that artifacts from both Morgan's ships and the Spanish merchant vessel Encarnación will be preserved for future generations. The convergence of these maritime stories—the English privateer and the Spanish trading network he disrupted—provides complementary perspectives on the complex colonial rivalries that shaped the Caribbean.