A RCTIC CIRCULA NO. I Notes on a trip in l6-foot ... - The Arctic Circle

VOL" XV No. I THE A<strong>RCTIC</strong> <strong>CIRCULA</strong>R
It is of particular importance that we already have severi
carbon dates from house-sites excavated in 1961. They all group
around the year A.D. 1000. It was about the year 1000, that Leif
Eriksen and other Noreemen, according to Icelandic Sagas, eailed
frorn Greenland to America and built houses there.
During the years I have got valuable assistance from
Canadians and thig has been of great lmportance for the succesg
of the expedition. I wieh to mention membera of the Government
of Newfoundland and particularly Premier Smallwood, the Memorial
University, St. Johnrs, and its president, Dr. Gushue,
At the federat level the Department of Northern Affairs and
National Resourcee has earned rny gratitude, both through assistance
from the National Museum of Canada and the detailed mappfung of the
site by the Natlonal Parks Branch" So too, have the Royal Canadian
Navy and the Royal Carradian Air Force for their assistance in trangportation
and air photographe. I am also indebted to the Grenfell
Mission, the Canadian Embassy in Oslo, and the Arctic Institute of
North America for their asslstance and advice,
I am very happy that the Governrnent
rnade an hietoric site of the discovery and has
buildings to protect the site for the future.
Discovery of petroglyphe near Wakeham Bay.
d t Anglure
of Newfoundland has
erected wooden
By Bernard Saladin
During the summer of 195I I spent five monthg at Wakeham
Bay carrying out a social anthropological study of the local Egkimos
under contract with the Northern Co-ordination and Reeearch Centre
of the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources. This
was my third visit to the shoreg of Hudson Strait. In 1955-6 I had
spent the winter at Koartak, and in 1950 I had spent the summer at
Koartak, Sugluk, and Wakeham Bay.
In 195I I arrived at Wakeham Bay on June 5. I can nranage
some convereation in Eskimo, but the Rev. H. Mascaret, O.M.I.,
the Roman Catholic missionary at W'akeham Bay, kindly assisted me
by interpreting in my first questioning of the Eskirnos about the
history of the area, lA/hile discuseing the old camp siteg and archaeological
sites I was most interested to hear Beveral Eskimoe mention