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Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project

Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project

The largest heritage project ever undertaken in the polar regions.

In 2002, HRH Princess Anne launched the Trust’s Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project (RSHRP) in Antarctica, a multi-year, multi-site international heritage conservation project to secure the five historic explorer bases of Scott, Shackleton, Borchgrevink and Hillary, and conserve the thousands of artefacts associated with the sites. At around the same time the international community began to recognise the importance of these sites. The Getty Foundation made significant funding available for the project and the World Monuments Fund listed all four sites on their 2008 list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites on Earth. They are also protected under the Antarctic Treaty System.

Since 2006 the Trust has engaged over 80 international heritage and conservation specialists in Antarctica, working in our custom-built facilities in the most challenging heritage conservation environment on Earth.

Conservation Plans for each of the Explorer Bases, developed as part of the Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project, can be purchased by emailing info@nzaht.org

Read the latest conservation news:

Antarctic Heritage Trust

Frozen Rigging, Antarctica Bound

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AHT discovered that a section of this cable had corroded through after more than 100 years, making the cable unfit for purpose.
Replacing the anchoring rigging on Shackleton's Hut at Cape RoydsAntarctic Heritage Trust/Lizzie Meek

Antarctic Conservation Season Update

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Despite the ramifications of Covid-19, our conservation team have successfully completed the essential monitoring and maintenance programme at the Ross Island historic huts in November and December 2020, thanks to the support of Antarctica New Zealand, in what has been an extremely challenging year for their operations.
The interior of Shackleton’s hut at Cape Royds after the completion of major conservation work by the Trust.Antarctic Heritage Trust

Antarctic Conservation Season Update September 2020

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The COVID-19 global pandemic has impacted the Trust’s Antarctic operations for the upcoming 2020-2021 season.

You can conserve these incredible places

Each year our expert team of conservators travel to Antarctica to maintain and conserve these huts and the 20,000 artefacts left inside. This ongoing work ensures that the legacy of Antarctic exploration continues for generations to come. But we cannot do this work without help from people like you.

By making a gift to the Trust you can help conserve the legacy of Antarctic exploration. If you’re passionate about this work, consider becoming an Antarctic Explorer Member or leaving a gift in your Will.