NEW YORK: Archaeology has its hazards—from snakes to bandits to falling rocks—but cannon fire is not usually among them. Workers cleaning a historic cannon that had once been on display in New York’s Central Park were startled to find that, after 200 years, it was still loaded. The cannon, which was once aboard the British warship HMS Hussar, was packed with a cannonball, wadding, and gunpowder (topped by a concrete plug to keep out litter), which were all safely removed. After cleaning, the cannon will be returned to display, with another chapter written in its long history. —Samir S. Patel