蓝莓视频

Two 蓝莓视频 archaeology professors were surveying an uncharted island in the High Arctic on September 1, when artifacts were found that led to the of one of Sir John Franklin鈥檚 19^th century ill-fated ships.

Since 2008 Robert Park, a professor in the Department of Anthropology, has been assisting Douglas Stenton, Director of Heritage for the Government of Nunavut, 听surveying Arctic islands for human habitation and migration patterns, including researching remains of the fabled Franklin Expedition.

Park and Stenton, who is also an adjunct 蓝莓视频 professor, catalogue sites, map and analyze locations of found relics, as well as assess threats of climate change to the terrain and its history.

Found artifact indicated ship nearby

On Sept. 1, the two archaeologists set off by helicopter on one of their daily trips from the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier research vessel, to survey yet another Arctic island. On that particular day, the island was selected by Stenton who, along with Park, were accompanied by pilot Andrew Stirling听and hydrographer Scott Youngblut.

Dr. Robert Park working with the LiDAR mapping system in Douglas Bay, Nunavut.听笔丑辞迟辞听credit: Douglas听Stenton, Government of听Nunavut

It was Stirling who first spotted a large iron object on the beach, and called Park and Stenton over. They were immediately intrigued, especially when they made out the British Royal Navy鈥檚 stamp in the rusted metal.

鈥淲e were very pleased,鈥� says Park of the moment they recognized the significance of what they鈥檇 found. 鈥淭his was the very first time we had found an artifact on shore that seemed to indicate that one of the ships had been nearby after having been abandoned.鈥�

A close-up reveals the Royal Navy broad arrows stamped at the base of the davit heel. The number 12 is also visible. Photo credit: Douglas Stenton, Government of Nunavut

According to Inuit oral testimony recorded in the 1870s, explains Park, the Franklin ship had drifted into that general region of the Arctic and had then sunk after a year in the ice.

The discovery of the iron piece, along with a wooden artifact, also thought to come from a ship, led to renewed underwater sonar searching in the vicinity and the historic discovery this week of one of the two Franklin Expedition ships that disappeared 166 years ago.