Trent Alumnus Reveals Latest Discoveries from the Franklin Expedition
Dr. Douglas Stenton '80 delivers public lecture on discovery of HMS Erebus
Distinguished Trent alumnus, Dr. Douglas Stenton, captivated an audience of faculty, students, and community members who filled The Venue in downtown Peterborough on October 14, 2015, as he recounted the details of his involvement in last year’s historic discovery of the HMS Erebus, one of the two lost ships of the 1845 Franklin expedition.
Dr. Stenton, who graduated in 1983 with an M.A in Anthropology, is the director of heritage for the Government of Nunavut. Before his presentation, he expressed his delight at being invited to speak at the public lecture hosted by Trent’s Anthropology Department. “I have very fond memories of my time at Trent. I still have colleagues here and it’s wonderful to have an opportunity to come back and share some of the story,” he said.
His presentation, entitled The Archaeology of the 1845 Franklin Expedition: New Evidence and Questions, provided an historical overview of the expedition as well as the attempts over the past two centuries to determine the fate of the ships and their crew. Supported by colourful maps and photos, Dr. Stenton discussed untruths that have emerged over the years about the expedition, as well as contentious issues such as the argument for cannibalism amongst crew members.
Dr. Stenton emphasized the role that Inuit oral history played in the discovery of the Erebus. “Information that was provided by Inuit and, importantly, recorded by 19th century searchers, was instrumental to the discovery,” he said.
The presentation included a recap of research that has taken place since the discovery of the Erebus and the new questions about the expedition that have been raised, including how the ship ended up in its final resting place. To the delight of the audience, Dr. Stenton displayed a number of artifacts from the expedition that were discovered in recent months.
“What a gift to be able to hear Dr. Stenton and see the artifacts that have just been found,” said Jane Mahood, a community member who attended the lecture because of her interest in the topic. “To be able to meet someone first hand who has made a find, it’s like you are part of it,” she said.