Canadian Archaeology: Art or Science?

Examining the Franklin Exploration artifacts that have been recovered and now on display at the Royal Ontario Museum

Introduction

     There are many different fields and subfields of archaeology, and as a result it can be portrayed and presented in many different ways. A new and intriguing subfield of archaeology is underwater archaeology. For this paper, I will be examining how underwater archaeology (and archaeology as a whole) plays a role in the recent discovery of the Franklin Expedition, and how the artifacts are being depicted and displayed at the Royal Ontario Museum. This analysis hopes to provide an answer to the question: how does the public perceive archaeology – is it a science or an art? This particular case study hopes to showcase how archaeologists use the scientific method and scientific techniques in a combination with a holistic approach to unearth and understand an incredibly interesting part of Canadian history. Before examining the displays found at the Royal Ontario Museum, I will discuss a brief history about the Franklin Expedition. Additionally, I will also explain and compare the scientific method to holistic approaches with regards to recovery and analysis of archaeological finds. The Franklin Expedition, while part of British history, plays an important part in Canadian archaeology and heritage as well.

The History

     Today we know it as the “Franklin Expedition”, but in 1845 it was known as something different. Sir John Franklin and Francis Rawdon were two British explorers who wanted to find and explore the Northwest Passage. These men were the captains for what was known then as the “Northwest Passage Expedition” (Bertulli et al, 1997:36). Sir John Franklin was the captain in the HMS Erebus, and Francis Rawdon was captain of the HMS Terror (Bertullie et al, 1997:37). With a crew of 137 men, both captains set sail from England in search of the Northwest Passage and new scientific knowledge (Bertulli et al, 1997:36). These ships were the most advanced and equipped for such an excursion during the mid 1800s (Bertullie et al, 1997:37). After they had made it passed Greenland and into the Canadian Arctic, both ships began to experience some very serious issues. Three crewmembers were lost during the winter of 1845 as both ships became stuck near Beechey Island (an island almost in the middle of the Canadian arctic) (Bertulli et al, 1997:37). During the autumn of 1845 the ships were stranded once more near the Victoria Straight where they inevitably became locked in the straight until 1848 (Bertulli et al, 1997:37). During this lockup many crewmembers died, leaving just over one hundred to continue on in hopes of exploring through the Northwest Passage and finding new scientific discoveries.

It is believed that soon after 1848, both ships were in some kind of an accident and all members of the expedition perished into the ocean. Since 1848, there have been many recovery expeditions to try and search for the lost crewmembers and ships – most were unsuccessful. By the early 1990s, artifacts and human remains had been recovered on shorelines near the Victoria Straight, reigniting the search for the ships. In 2008, Parks Canada and the Canadian Forces started a new search for the shipwrecks using state-of-the-art imaging technology and Inuit oral testimonies (Parks Canada, 2015). In 2015, underwater archaeologists began to exhume and examine artifacts from the bottom of the ocean where the HMS Erebus rests.

The Methods

     What does it mean to follow the scientific method? What does it mean to recover and examine artifacts with a holistic approach? What was used for the recovery and analysis of the artifacts found during the Franklin Expedition? There was certainly an array of hypotheses and methods used to uncover the whereabouts of the HMS Erebus. In definition, the scientific method refers to certain steps when identifying a problem: (1) identify a problem, (2) create an appropriate hypothesis for the problem, (3) test the hypothesis, and (4) analyze its data (Kilgore et al, 2015:12). In comparison, a holistic approach “…draws on the four subfields of anthropology while integrating both biological and cultural phenomena” (Sex, Food and Death). With regards to the search and recovery mission for the Franklin Expedition, we can see a combination of both approaches.

     It is important to incorporate both methods into the recovery of the HMS Erebus as science can influence culture (and vies versa). Radar and sonar imaging were used to locate the HMS Erebus, and once found, dive-certified archaeologists and biologists were needed to examine the wreck. In addition to these two professions, archaeological historic conservators, ecologists, diving systems technologists, engineers, fishermen, and petty officers all played an important role in retrieving many of the artifacts that were found in and around the shipwreck of the HMS Erebus (Parks Canada, 2015). While not all of these professions are based within the hard sciences, many of them use a combination of both scientific techniques and holistic methods to carryout their jobs. Once the underwater archaeologists and biologists had explored the entirety of the shipwreck, artifacts such as anchors, fishing tools, and a large copper bell had been recovered and taken to a lab for examination. Using oral histories, high-tech imaging systems, historical written records, and x-ray machinery, archaeologists wre able to analyze and recovery many artifacts from the HMS Erebus. Hopefully one day, they will also be able to find the HMS Terror, and understand what caused these ships to sink.

The ROM and The Franklin Expedition pop-up Exhibit

     After researching the history of such an exciting expedition, I had thought that the pop-up exhibit found at the Royal Ontario Museum would have been epic. After entering the museum I was extremely disappointed to find that the pop-up exhibit consisted only of the bell (encased in a glass box) that had been recovered from the HMS Erebus.  Underneath it was a small screen, which replayed footage of underwater archaeologists discovering the bell for the first time, and how they examined it in a lab. While it was cool to watch and look at, I was extremely disappointed that it had been marketed as a huge informative exhibit. While the videos that played were somewhat interesting, there was no discussion or mention of how they resurfaced the bell, how they kept it from drying out, or any explanation for what tests they carried out with it. As I walked away disappointed, I moved onto the permanent exhibit on the history of Canada.

     I was pleased to find here a giant canvas board explaining the Franklin Expedition, and its impact on Canadian heritage and history. Finally I was able to get some information about how Canadian archaeology is portrayed to the public! The boards explained who Sir John Franklin and Francis Rawdon were, why they had wanted to explore the Northwest Passage, and how the First Nation communities of today were used to help discover the HMS Erebus whereabouts. While these boards were mainly pictorial, I believe they show a good balance between the scientific aspects of archaeology, as well as the holistic. Clearly, the scientific method was used to re-inspire the search for both ships, even though they have only found the one so far. Archaeologists had to work along side a range of scientific and art professionals: army officers, biologists, ecologists, engineers and scuba trained/certified instructors. Each member of the team took part in carefully analyzing the shipwreck, as well as the removal of artifacts. Additionally, the holistic approach can be seen with the contribution of the First Nation’s oral history influence with finding the underwater wreckage. Without the oral traditions told by Canada’s Inuit cultures, it would have been unlikely that the HMS Erebus would have been found.

Conclusion

     This exhibit was definitely not marketed properly. It is extremely disappointing to go to such a prominent museum, only to find out that there is little to no information about such a significant part of Canadian history and heritage. While this is still a fairly new expedition, it is important to share with the public as much information as possible. However, the information that was displayed had some very interesting facts and information about Canadian archaeology and Canadian heritage. While it this exhibit doesn’t explicitly say that archaeology is part of the hard sciences, it can be depicted as a branch of hard science. Underwater archaeologists not only need an understand of the ocean, but how to properly examine and take care of the artifacts found in such an environment. By combining cultural aspects of First Nation Canadian communities, with the scientific method, I would say that Canadian archaeology (in this scenario) should be labelled as a hard science, not just as an art.