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The history of Granite House and the western geological party of Scott's Terra Nova expedition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

B. Schroeter ,
T.G.A. Green  and
R.D. Seppelt
B. Schroeter
Affiliation:
Botanisches Institut, Universitat Kiel, OlshausenstraBe 40, D-24098 Kiel, Germany
T.G.A. Green
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
R.D. Seppelt
Affiliation:
Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia
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Abstract

In summer 1911—1912, during Robert Falcon Scott's Terra Nova expedition (1910–1913) a field party of four men led by the geologist Griffith Taylor surveyed the coast and hinterland of Victoria Land, Antarctica. During their stay at Cape Geology (77°00'S, 162°35'E), Granite Harbour, the members of the ‘western geological party’ built Granite House, a rock shelter used as a kitchen. The field party finished its work in the Granite Harbour region in the second week of January 1912, but heavy sea ice prevented Terra Nova from reaching the prearranged meeting point at the entrance to the bay. Faced with the possibility of being trapped for the winter, the party left Granite Harbour and travelled overland back toward the winter quarters on Ross Island. One month later the party was picked up by Terra Nova and was returned safely to Cape Evans. During an expedition to Granite Harbour in January-February 1992, the authors discovered an 80-year-old note left by the field party in a cigarette tin in the vicinity of Granite House. Dated 14 January 1912, the note was written by Taylor to Lieutenant H.L.L. Pennell, the skipper of Terra Nova, to let him know that the party had left for Cape Roberts. Granite House is a significant relic of the ‘heroic era’ and merits protection.

Type
Articles
Information
Polar Record , Volume 29 , Issue 170 , July 1993 , pp. 219 - 224
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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