Maritime navigation across the Seno Mexicano—the historical Gulf of Mexico—was a vital corridor for commerce and technological exchange among Europe, the Caribbean, and the American mainland during the early modern period. This intense maritime activity left a material legacy, preserved in shipwrecks, which today serve as key sources for understanding shipbuilding practices and transatlantic trade networks.
Within this framework, archaeometallurgical studies of underwater cultural heritage, examined in conjunction with the historical record, provide critical evidence for establishing chronological and technological affiliations among wreck sites. This webinar presents an integrated analysis of copper-based artifacts recovered from colonial shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico—particularly fastenings (nails, bolts, and tacks) and hull sheathing plates—emphasizing their metallurgical characteristics and functional roles in ship protection systems.
Artisanal production techniques, including forging, annealing, and work hardening, are analyzed in relation to the microstructural features of copper and copper alloys, offering insights into manufacturing traditions and technological choices in maritime contexts.