ARCTIC The Route of Sir John Franklin’s Third Arctic Expedition: An Evaluation and Test of an Alternative Hypothesis

• Main Authors: Clifford G. Hickey, James M. Savelle, George B. Hobson
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1992
• Subjects: Arctic; Austin; Beechey Island; Franklin Strait; Guillaume; King William Island; McClintock; Peel Sound; Stefansson; William Island; inuit
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.498.9011; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic46-1-78.pdf

ABSTRACT. An archaeological survey to aid in the determination of the exact route of the last Sir John Franklin expedition following its overwintering at Beechey Island in 1845-46 was conducted in June 1982. The survey was designed to test the hypothesis that the expedition sailed from Beechey Island south to King William Island via McClintock Channel, rather than through Peel Sound and Franklin Strait, as is generally accepted. Surveyed areas included Kilian, Stefansson, and northeast Victoria Islands in northwest McClintock Channel, and Russell and northern Prince of Wales Islands to the northeast of McClintock Channel. Although three cairns associated with Austin’s searching expedition of 1850-51 were located, as well as several prehistoric and historic Inuit sites, no structures or materials associated with the Franklin expedition were identified. While inconclusive, the survey essentially completes the examination of coastlines along which the Franklin expedition may have sailed. Key words: Sir John Franklin, route of third arctic expedition, McClintock Channel Rl!iSUMl?. En juin 1982, on a effectue une etude archeologique destink permettre de retracer la route emprude par la dernibre expedition de sir John Franklin aprbs le long hivernage de 1845-46 h l’ile Beechey. L’etude avait pour but de v rifier l’hypothbse selon laquelle l’exp6dition avait navigu6 de l’fle Beechey en direction du sud vers l’ile du Roi-Guillaume via le chenal McClintock, plutat qu’h travers le d6troit de Peel et celui de Franklin, comme on le pense habituellement. Les regions de 1’6tude comprenaient les iles Kilian et Stefansson et le nord-est de l’ile Victoria dans la partie nord-ouest du chenal McClintock, ainsi que I’ile Russell et la partie septentrionale de l’ile du Prince-de-Galles au nord-est du chenal McClintock. Bien qu’on ait localis6 trois cairns datant de l’expkdition de recherche me & par Austin en 1850-51, ainsi que divers sites inuit pr6historiques