The Franklin expedition was an important historical event involving the British Royal Navy’s attempt to find a route through the Arctic in 1845. The expedition, led by Sir John Franklin, included two ships, HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, with 129 crew members. Captain James Fitzjames, commander of the HMS Erebus, was identified as the first known victim of cannibalism among the expedition members through DNA and genealogical evidence.
After abandoning the ships in 1848, the remains of many sailors were found in various locations in the Canadian Arctic. Researchers, including Douglas Stenton at the University of Waterloo, identified Fitzjames using genetic comparisons between a tooth and a descendant’s cheek swab.
Further analysis by the late bioarchaeologist Anne Keenleyside revealed evidence of cannibalism, with cut marks on Fitzjames’s lower jawbone and other remains. This suggests that the survivors resorted to eating the bodies of their fellow sailors in a desperate bid to survive.
According to Treena Swanston from MacEwan University, research like this highlights the importance of Indigenous Inuit testimony, as they were the first to report signs of cannibalism among the Franklin expedition members. The findings shed light on the harsh realities faced by the sailors in their quest to navigate the Arctic.
Topics: Arctic exploration, DNA analysis, cannibalism, historical research
Vocabulary List:
- Expedition /ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃən/ (noun): A journey undertaken for a specific purpose often involving exploration.
- Cannibalism /ˈkænɪbəlˌɪzəm/ (noun): The act of consuming the flesh of one’s own species.
- Analysis /əˈnælɪsɪs/ (noun): The process of examining data or information to understand it better.
- Genetic /dʒəˈnɛtɪk/ (adjective): Relating to genes or heredity.
- Survivor /sərˈvaɪvər/ (noun): A person who remains alive after an event or ordeal.
- Desperate /ˈdɛspərit/ (adjective): Having lost all hope; despairing; driven to take risks or extreme actions due to urgency.
How much do you know?
Who led the Franklin expedition in 1845?
How many crew members were aboard the expedition?
Which ships were part of the Franklin expedition?
Who identified Captain James Fitzjames as the first known victim of cannibalism among the expedition members?
What kind of evidence was found on Fitzjames's lower jawbone indicating cannibalism?
Who highlighted the importance of Indigenous Inuit testimony in the research?