In a recent 12-day exploration spearheaded by underwater archaeologists from Parks Canada at the National Historic Site of the Wrecks of HMS Erebus & HMS Terror in the Canadian Arctic, a trove of historical artifacts has been uncovered, providing valuable insights into the ill-fated 1845 Franklin expedition.
The Franklin expedition, led by Captain John Franklin, aimed to navigate the last uncharted sections of the Northwest Passage. Tragically, the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror became icebound near King William Island in the Canadian Arctic. After a year trapped in the ice, the crew abandoned the ships, resulting in a harrowing 250-mile trek across sea ice, during which all perished.
Parks Canada’s Underwater Archaeology team conducted 68 dives during the expedition, meticulously documenting the wreck and retrieving hundreds of items. Among the noteworthy artifacts recovered were a parallel ruler, an intact thermometer, a leather book cover, and a fishing rod with a brass reel, found in what is believed to be the officer’s cabin of Second Lieutenant Henry Dundas Le Vesconte.
In the captain’s steward’s pantry, the team discovered a leather shoe, boot bottom, storage jars, and a sealed pharmaceutical bottle. The latter item, embossed with the letter “K” and the government arrow, held significant historical value.
The forecastle area, where most crew members lived, yielded a diverse array of items, including pistols, military gear, footwear, medicinal bottles, and coins. Excavations in Third Lieutenant James Fairholme’s cabin revealed unidentified fossils, complementing findings from the previous year.
The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change said: “The Franklin expedition remains one of the most popular mysteries from the nineteenth century. However, thanks to the important work of Parks Canada and Inuit partners, pieces of this mysterious puzzle are being retrieved, allowing us to better understand the fascinating events of this incredible expedition.”
The comprehensive study included the excavation of a seaman’s chest in the forecastle. Moreover, divers documented spare propellers and an ice anchor in the debris field, the first such anchor found from either the HMS Erebus or HMS Terror.
A major aspect of the research involved the capture of thousands of high-resolution digital photographs, paving the way for the creation of 3D photogrammetry models of the site. These models will enable researchers to monitor the impact of environmental factors on the wreck’s condition over time.
The collaboration between Parks Canada and the Inuit community has been instrumental in locating the shipwrecks. The Inuit’s oral history and traditional knowledge, as highlighted by late Inuit researcher Louie Kamookak, played a crucial role in the successful rediscovery of the Erebus and Terror wrecks.
The recovered artifacts, jointly owned by Parks Canada and the Inuit Heritage Trust, will undergo conservation and study in Ottawa before being displayed at the Nattilik Heritage Centre in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut.
