Port Refuge
Historic site in Nunavut, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.[3][4] 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.[5]
| Port Refuge | |
|---|---|
  Location in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago  Port Refuge (Canada) | |
| Location | Nunavut, Canada |
| Coordinates | 76°18′0″N 94°43′0″W[1] |
| Established | 19 June 1978 |
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.[5] Earliest occupation was Independence I culture at approximately 2000 BCE. There is evidence of the Thule culture occupation from 1200 to 1500 CE.[4][5]
There is a Thule winter village including five winter houses near the entrance to the bay containing Norse and Asiatic objects.[3] These show evidence of trade with medieval Norse colonies of Greenland.[4]
Port Refuge was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1978.[3]