Underwater Archaeological Survey and Excavation of HMS Erebus in 2022 (French, PDF)

Underwater Archaeological Survey and Excavation of HMS Erebus in 2022: French PDF file (33 MB). From Parks Canada, updated Oct 2026. View metadata, licence and the direct download on CanQuery.

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2026-10-02

This report presents the results of archaeological research undertaken by Parks Canada’s Underwater Archaeology Team (UAT) at the wreck of HMS Erebus in 2022. The major archaeological objectives for 2022 were to assess and document the condition of the wreck, as it had not been visited since 2019, and to continue excavation of specific areas of the lower deck. The UAT achieved these objectives by establishing a camp on the ice directly above the wreck in April and May, which allowed documentation of the site using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), followed by dives by UAT archaeologists in September to continue documentation and excavation. The site remains dynamic with numerous changes observed since 2018, especially in the area of the upper deck, while the debris field surrounding the wreck exhibited noticeable scouring. The UAT moved the ship’s windlass from the upper deck onto the seafloor, as it was at risk of falling onto the lower deck. Excavation continued in three sub-operations on the port side of the lower deck, where discrete spaces believed to correspond to officer’s cabins and storage areas retained elements of fitted furniture filled with sediment, encapsulating a…

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