During excavations and maintenance of the El Deposito tunnels, unusual objects have been discovered—munitions and remnants of conflict hidden in the reservoir’s depths. This exhibition displays these finds in careful arrangement, transforming them into historical witnesses.

At the center is a case of rusted rifles, bayonets, and ammunition recovered from waterlogged soil, each stabilized by conservation experts. Bomb casings and mortar shells, inert and secured, are presented alongside interpretive panels explaining how they came to rest in the reservoir during different wars—from the late Spanish period, to the Philippine-American War, to World War II.

Supporting displays include soldiers’ canteens, helmets, and military insignia, some retrieved near the aqueduct entrance. Archival documents and maps show how the reservoir area became a contested site, from the Battle of San Juan del Monte to later skirmishes.

Visitors are guided through a narrative that frames these weapons not as trophies, but as mute witnesses to violence. Lighting is subdued, cases are arranged with respectful distance, and audio excerpts from diaries and letters provide human voices beside the metal relics. A concluding section connects the finds to the present, highlighting the role of archaeologists, engineers, and curators in making hidden histories safe and visible.

“Silent Witness” is as much about display as it is about memory, turning the reservoir’s accidental archive of weapons into a lens on conflict and survival.