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KING WILLIAM ISLAND
The search for the lost Sir John Franklin ships has yielded some artifacts such as buttons, nails and a toothbrush as well as human remains on Sept. 6.

A copper button with the manufacturer's markings found at the Erebus Bay site. - photo courtesy of G. Toldi/Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Parks Canada is leading the search for lost Franklin ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, in the region of the Victoria and Alexandra straits as well as the southern region near O'Reilly Island, west of the Adelaide Peninsula.

Both ships were lost during the British explorer's ill-fated search of the Northwest Passage in 1845-46. They are a designated national historic site, the only one still undiscovered.

Territorial government staff, part of the search team, made recent discoveries at a known site on the shores of Erebus Bay, on the western side of King William Island, said Marc-Andre Bernier, chief of underwater archeology with Parks Canada.

"Other than the small number of bones, there were some small finds," he said.

"And those include buttons, nails and a toothbrush," he said.

The finds were sent to Iqaluit for analysis, according to Bernier.

He said the artifacts and human remains will help document what happened to the crew after they abandoned the ships.

He added the ground exploration is done for the year.

"In this case here, this may not be groundbreaking information but it adds to the knowledge we have," said Bernier.

Gjoa Haven resident and historian Louie Kamookak said it's good news they're starting to find things related to the expedition.

"All of us that live here, we see (artifacts) a lot of times when we're out there on the land but having archeologists confirming it is good," he said.

"Finding this stuff has got nothing to do with getting closer to finding the ships but it probably would help to know they were in that area, like to camp.

"If they find more evidence the ships were near there, then that might help."

This year's four-week expedition, which started Aug. 28, is expected to cost about $275,000.

The first three expeditions, in 2008, 2010 and 2011, although unsuccessful in finding the ships, have narrowed the search area as an increasing area of seafloor has been systemically ruled out.

Challenges in the search include varying accounts of the fate of the Franklin ships as well as the vast and harsh weather conditions of the Arctic.

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