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Port Refuge

Port Refuge
Location in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago Show map of Nunavut Port Refuge (Canada) Show map of Canada
Location	Nunavut, Canada
Coordinates	76°18′0″N 94°43′0″W / 76.30000°N 94.71667°W / 76.30000; -94.71667 (Port Refuge, Nunavut, Canada)[1]
Established	19 June 1978
National Historic Site of Canada

Port Refuge is located off the south coast of Grinnell Peninsula in a small bay on the south coast of Devon IslandinNunavut, Canada.^[2][3] The site received its current name by Sir Edward Belcher when he sought refuge there in 1852-1853 from moving ice during his voyage in search of the missing Franklin Expedition.^[4]

Port Refuge contains archaeological evidence of early human occupation of the High Arctic over the last 4000 years. There is evidence of Paleo-Eskimo and Pre-Dorset culture occupations.^[4] Earliest occupation was Independence I culture at approximately 2000 BCE. There is evidence of the Thule culture occupation from 1200 to 1500 CE.^[3][4]

There is a Thule winter village including five winter houses near the entrance to the bay containing Norse and Asiatic objects.^[2] These show evidence of trade with medieval Norse colonies of Greenland.^[3]

Port Refuge was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1978.^[2]

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• McGhee, Robert (1979). "Independence I Occupations at Port Refuge". Palaeoeskimo Occupations at Port Refuge, High Arctic Canada. University of Ottawa Press. pp. 8–86. doi:10.2307/j.ctt22zmf1t.4. ISBN 978-1-7728-2087-4.
• McGhee, Robert (1979). "The Pre-Dorset Occupation of Port Refuge". Palaeoeskimo Occupations at Port Refuge, High Arctic Canada. University of Ottawa Press. pp. 87–106. doi:10.2307/j.ctt22zmf1t.5. ISBN 978-1-7728-2087-4.