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Cited by 62Paleopathology and ancient diseasesForensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology StudiesHistorical and Archaeological Studies

The Final Days of the Franklin Expedition: New Skeletal Evidence

Open access
Keenleyside, Anne, Bertulli, Margaret, Fricke, Henry C.·1997·ARCTIC
DOI 10.14430/arctic1089
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Abstract

In 1992, a previously unrecorded site of Sir John Franklin's last expedition (1845-1848) was discovered on King William Island in the central Canadian Arctic. Artifacts recovered from the site included iron and copper nails, glass, a clay pipe fragment, pieces of fabric and shoe leather, buttons, and a scatter of wood fragments, possibly representing the remains of a lifeboat or sledge. Nearly 400 human bones and bone fragments, representing a minimum of 11 men, were also found at the site. A combination of artifactual and oxygen isotope evidence indicated a European origin for at least two of these individuals. Skeletal pathology included periostitis, osteoarthritis, dental caries, abscesses, antemortem tooth loss, and periodontal disease. Mass spectroscopy and x-ray fluorescence revealed elevated lead levels consistent with previous measurements, further supporting the conclusion that lead poisoning contributed to the demise of the expedition. Cut marks on approximately one-quarter of the remains support 19th-century Inuit accounts of cannibalism among Franklin's crew.

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  • At NgLj-2, 92 bones were cut-marked by a metal blade; all anatomical elements except skulls, patellae, and carpals show cut marks; three long bones show ancient breakage; none show peeling or cooking.

    “Ninetytwo bones were cut-marked by a metal blade.With the exception of the skulls, patellae and carpal bones, all other anatomical elements show evidence of cut marks.Three long bones, two radii and a tibia, also present evidence of ancient breakage.None of the bones at the site showed evidence of peeling or cooking (Table 1).”

    From The Archaeology of Cannibalism: a Review of the Taphonomic Traits Associated with Survival and Ritualistic Cannibalism (2025) · cites this paper as Keenleyside et al. (1997)

    The Results (page not available) report 92 bones with cuts characteristic of metal blades, no cuts on the recovered crania, patellae or carpals, and fractures in two radii and a tibia. They say cut marks occurred on most types of elements, not explicitly all other types, and could not determine when the fractures occurred. The paper reports no evidence of burning, but does not address peeling or cooking as such (searched: peeling, cooking). (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • At NgLj-2, 304 human fragments belonging to a minimum of eight male individuals, all under age 50, were identified; the remains were generally well preserved with minimum breakage and 33 vertebrae were present.

    “Keenleyside et al. (1997) identified 304 human fragments belonging to a minimum of eight male individuals, all under the age of 50.The skeletal remains were generally well preserved with minimum breakage and the vertebrae were fairly well represented (total of 33 vertebrae present; Keenleyside et al., 1997, p. 39).”

    From The Archaeology of Cannibalism: a Review of the Taphonomic Traits Associated with Survival and Ritualistic Cannibalism (2025) · cites this paper as Keenleyside et al. (1997)

    Materials and Methods (page unavailable) reports a morphological minimum of eight individuals, but also says another analysis indicated at least 11. Results (page unavailable) identifies the remains as male and estimates all individuals to have been under 50. The copy does not substantiate 304 fragments or describe the remains generally as well preserved with minimal breakage: it reports weathered surface remains and excellent-condition subsurface remains. Table 4's vertebral counts sum to 33, although Materials and Methods describes vertebrae as few. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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References 57 · Cited by 62

Research works printed but not linked: 24

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Authors
Keenleyside, A., Bertulli, M., & Fricke, H. C.
Affiliations
  • University of London (GB)
  • Government of Northwest Territories (CA)
  • University of Michigan (US)
Corresponding author
Keenleyside, Anne
Venue
ARCTIC
Publisher
The Arctic Institute of North America
Published
1997-01-01
Volume
50
Issue
1
ISSN
  • 0004-0843 (ISSN-L)
  • 1923-1245
DOI
10.14430/arctic1089
OpenAlex
W2154279462
Cited by
62
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
FWCI
15.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
ARCTIC (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • McMaster University
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Paleopathology and ancient diseases
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Historical and Archaeological Studies
Keywords
Franklin expedition, King William Island, skeletal remains, lead poisoning, cannibalism, bone pathology, periostitis, osteoarthritis, dental caries, periodontal disease, antemortem tooth loss, oxygen isotopes, cut marks, Arctic exploration

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