Archaeologists have recovered 275 artifacts from the wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, adding a significant chapter to maritime archaeology. These discoveries come as part of ongoing efforts to document the Franklin expedition, a historic journey that began in England in 1845 with 128 crew members under Sir John Franklin. The two vessels, intended to chart a northern passage between the Atlantic and Pacific, vanished amid Arctic ice. The surviving accounts come primarily from records and journals, with the wrecks now located near Gjoa Haven in the Canadian Arctic and accessible to researchers through careful, methodical study. The new finds help illuminate how the crew lived and coped under extreme conditions during a perilous voyage that ended in tragedy. The study of the Erebus and Terror wrecks continues to enrich our understanding of 19th‑century seafaring and polar exploration. (Parks Canada lab, Ottawa)
During the 2022 field season, researchers carried out 56 dives aboard Erebus, each lasting two hours, spread across 11 days. In the butler’s pantry, teams uncovered dining ware and personal items that belonged to officers, including the lieutenant’s shoulder straps and a lens from someone’s spectacles. The most remarkable discovery, described by archaeologists as a leather‑bound volume with an embossed cover and a hidden fountain pen, resembled a diary placed beside a bed in an orderly room, suggesting intimate daily use and the preservation of a traveler’s thoughts. These objects provide a tangible link to daily life on board and offer clues about routines, routines, and interpersonal dynamics aboard the ships. (Parks Canada lab, Ottawa)
Further access to the officers’ quarters allowed investigators to study spaces that had remained sealed for generations. Second Lieutenant Henry Thomas Dundas documented a green box containing drawing tools found in the cabin attributed to Le Wescont, offering a glimpse into the personal interests and professional habits of those aboard. In total, all 275 artifacts are undergoing careful analysis at the Parks Canada laboratory in Ottawa, where researchers are compiling their findings to build a comprehensive narrative of the Franklin expedition’s final years and the conditions that shaped its outcome. (Parks Canada lab, Ottawa)