The Franklin Trail - 1993 Expedition

The Franklin Recovery Expedition
July 13, 1993 to August 8, 1993

TEAM MEMBERS:

Margaret Bertulli - Archaeologist
Anne Keenleyside - Anthropologist
Barry Ranford - Amateur Historian
Derek Smith - Photographer
Jennifer Ranford - Student Anthropologist
Jim Porter - Inuk Guide
John Harrington - Business Manager and Artist

PURPOSE:

To excavate, analyse and interpret a Franklin site discovered on King William Island in the summer of 1992 by Barry Ranford and Mike Yarascavich.
To do some further exploration of the Terror Bay area.

1993 PRIMARY SITE BEFORE EXCAVATION

SUMMARY OF THE TRIP:

The team of seven worked at the primary site from July 15, 1993 to July 29, 1993. Three hundred (300) bones, including 5 skulls and 7 mandibles were collected and shipped back to McMaster University for further study by Anne Keenleyside. On July 27, 1993, John Harrington and Barry Ranford discovered a new site with 3 skulls and numerous artifacts. On July 29, Barry Ranford, Derek Smith and John Harrington were flown to Terror Bay for further exploration; the other team members began their journey home. Barry, Derek and John searched for the "hospital tent" of the Franklin expedition until being flown out on August 6, 1993.

EXCAVATING THE 1993 SITE

RESULTS:

Of the 300 bones analysed by Anne Keenleyside, the following was determined:

A minimum of eleven individuals were represented
Based on tooth development, one individual was estimated to be 12 to 15 years old at death (This means he was 9 to 12 years old when he left England.)
Ninety-two (92) bones had post mortem cut marks! "Interpreted as evidence of possible cannibalism, an interpretation which, although contoversial, is supported by Inuit testimony" - Keenleyside
Lead content of the bones was 82 and 83 parts per million on the two tibia samples tested. (Normal is 18 to 50 ppm). This elevated result is consistent with tests done on the bodies at Beechy Island in 1985.

ONE OF 5 SKULLS DISCOVERED

FEMUR WITH DEEP KNIFE MARKS

The new site discovered by John Harrington and Barry Ranford appears to be the boat place discovered by McClintock and Hobson in 1859 and later rediscovered by Schwatka in 1880.

Plaque

The remains from the 1993 trip were taken to McMaster University for analysis. They were returned to the original site in 1994 and were buried in a stone tomb with this plaque on the outside.

GENERAL
WEATHER
CONDITIONS:

Cold (5 to 10 degrees celsius) with one or two days as warm as 15 degrees.
Windy
Mostly clear and sunny

SPONSORS:

Friends of Equinox: - Canadian Coleman; - Zurich Insurance
Canadian Airlines
Sutton River Clothing

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