The team repatriated several items to Scott’s Terra Nova hut at Cape Evans this season including an improvised sledge distance meter wheel once owned by George Murray Levick.
Two historic Antarctic artefacts are on their way home after more than 60 years and a trip around the globe.
Our tenth blog as part of a series written by our 2021/22 On Ice Conservation Team
The discovery of historic Antarctic artefacts at Cape Evans is one of the highlights of the season for the Trust.
A key project, in addition to maintenance and monitoring work at Scott’s Terra Nova hut at Cape Evans work was to reduce the dust levels from the scoria in the stables and western annex.
The Trust has published a podcast featuring a series of short interviews captured on location in Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova hut during the 2019 Antarctic season by Francesca Eathorne, Trust Chief OperationsOfficer.
Our conservation specialists, working in expedition photographer Herbert Ponting’s darkroom at Scott’s Cape Evans base, discovered a small box of cellulose nitrate negatives clumped together.
The photographs are from Ernest Shackleton’s Ross Sea Party (1914-1917), which spent time living in Scott’s hut after being stranded on Ross Island when their ship blew out to sea. Their role was to lay vital depots for Shackleton’s expedition.
Antarctic Heritage Trust The negatives were removed from Antarctica to undergo detailed conservation treatment back in New Zealand, where the negatives were painstakingly separated to reveal 22 never-before-seen Antarctic images.
Antarctic Heritage Trust Iceberg and land, Ross Island.
Although many of the images were damaged, our conservators were able to recognise landmarks around McMurdo Sound. While the identity of the photographer remains unknown, it is thought to be expedition photographer, the Reverend Arnold Spencer-Smith.
Antarctic Heritage Trust Alexander Stevens, chief scientist and geologist on-board the Aurora.
Antarctic Heritage Trust Looking south along Hut Point Peninsula to Ross Island.
Antarctic Heritage Trust Ross Island, Antarctica. Alexander Stevens, chief scientist and geologist looks south. Hut Point Peninsula in the background
Antarctic Heritage Trust Tent Island, McMurdo Sound.
Antarctic Heritage Trust Big Razorback Island, McMurdo Sound.
Mount Erebus, Ross Island, from the west. Mount Erebus, Ross Island, from the west.
Antarctic Heritage Trust Sea ice afloat, McMurdo Sound.
Our conservators discovered a photographer’s notebook left behind a century ago at Captain Scott’s last expedition base, Cape Evans.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Antarctic Heritage Trust
Administration Building, International Antarctic Centre
38 Orchard Road, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand
Antarctic Heritage Trust
Administration Building, International Antarctic Centre
38 Orchard Road, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand
Adding gallery of images through Add Media
Antarctic Heritage Trust knsdvknd
Antarctic Heritage Trust asdvjbdjbv
Antarctic Heritage Trust dsvdv
Antarctic Heritage Trust 
Alasdair Turner 
