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Port Refuge

Coordinates: 76°18′0″N 94°43′0″W / 76.30000°N 94.71667°W / 76.30000; -94.71667 (Port Refuge, Nunavut, Canada)[1]
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Port Refuge
Port Refuge is located in Nunavut
Port Refuge
Port Refuge is located in Canada
Port Refuge
Port Refuge (Canada)
LocationNunavut, Canada
Coordinates76°18′0″N 94°43′0″W / 76.30000°N 94.71667°W / 76.30000; -94.71667 (Port Refuge, Nunavut, Canada)[1]
Established19 June 1978

Port Refuge is located off the south coast of Grinnell Peninsula in a small bay on the south coast of Devon Island in Nunavut, 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

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  1. ^ "Port Refuge". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  2. ^ a b c Port Refuge National Historic Site of Canada. Directory of Federal Heritage Designations. Parks Canada.
  3. ^ a b c Port Refuge National Historic Site of Canada. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  4. ^ a b c McGhee, Robert (8 July 2014). "Port Refuge". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada.

Further reading

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