### The Heartbreaking Outcome of Captain Sir John Franklin’s Expedition: Fresh DNA Findings Illuminate Cannibalism and Existence
In a remarkable breakthrough, researchers from the University of Waterloo have pinpointed a member of the ill-fated team associated with Captain Sir John Franklin’s 1845 Arctic mission, which aimed to navigate the elusive Northwest Passage. A recent investigation featured in the *Journal of Archaeological Science* reveals that DNA analysis has validated that a tooth retrieved from a jawbone at one of the expedition’s archaeological locations belonged to Captain James Fitzjames of the HMS *Erebus*. The remains exhibit unmistakable evidence of cannibalism, supporting early Inuit narratives about the crew’s dire battle for survival.
This novel evidence introduces a chilling chapter to the sorrowful tale of Franklin’s expedition, which has intrigued historians, archaeologists, and the general public for over 170 years. The expedition’s two vessels, the HMS *Erebus* and HMS *Terror*, became trapped in ice within the Victoria Strait, leading to the death of all 129 crew members. The enigma surrounding their fate has inspired a multitude of books, films, and even Dan Simmons’ 2007 horror novel, *The Terror*, which was subsequently adapted into an AMC television series in 2018.
#### Overview of the Franklin Expedition
Captain Sir John Franklin’s expedition set off on May 19, 1845, with the ambition of unveiling the Northwest Passage—a maritime pathway through the Arctic linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The crew was last spotted in July 1845 in Baffin Bay by the leaders of two whaling vessels. After that, the expedition disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only bits of evidence that would gradually be uncovered over the subsequent century and a half.
The crew weathered the winter of 1845–1846 on Beechey Island, where the graves of three crew members were later unearthed. When the ice melted, the vessels entered the Victoria Strait, only to be ensnared by ice near King William Island in September 1846. According to a note signed by Fitzjames in April 1848, Franklin passed away on June 11, 1847. Following Franklin’s death, Fitzjames took command of the remaining 105 survivors, who endeavored to trek back to civilization. Regrettably, none of them succeeded.
#### Inuit Testimonies and Initial Search Attempts
For many years, the fate of the Franklin expedition remained an enigma. It wasn’t until 1854 that indigenous Inuit provided vital information to Scottish explorer John Rae. They recounted witnessing approximately 40 men hauling a ship’s boat on a sledge along the southern coastline of King William Island. The following year, several corpses were found near the entrance of the Back River. A subsequent search in 1859 uncovered additional bodies and one of the ships’ boats, still resting on a sledge, about 80 kilometers south of the initial site, now identified as Erebus Bay. More remains were discovered in 1861, merely two kilometers away.
Despite these findings, the complete narrative of the expedition remained elusive. It wasn’t until the 1990s that archaeologists reidentified these sites, designated NgLj-3 and NgLj-2, and initiated the process of reconstructing the harrowing events of the crew’s final hours.
#### DNA Research and Fitzjames’ Identification
The latest investigation is part of a sustained initiative to identify the remains of Franklin’s crew through DNA analysis. Researchers have been comparing genetic profiles from archaeological specimens—bones, teeth, and hair—with samples collected from the descendants of the expedition members. So far, 46 archaeological samples from King William Island have been genetically profiled, and 25 descendants have submitted cheek swab samples for analysis.
In 2021, the team identified one of the bodies as John Gregory, the head engineer of the *Erebus*. Now, they have established the identity of Captain James Fitzjames, due to a Y-chromosome profile obtained from a tooth discovered at the NgLj-2 site. Fitzjames was a significant figure in the expedition, and his death likely occurred in May or June of 1848, soon after he assumed command following Franklin’s passing.
#### Cannibalism Evidence
One of the most unsettling aspects of the new discoveries is the confirmation of cannibalism among the crew. Inuit reports from the 1850s had implied that the survivors resorted to consuming their deceased comrades, but these claims were initially dismissed by Europeans as too shocking to validate. Nevertheless, in 1997, bioarchaeologist Anne Keenleyside identified cut marks on nearly 25% of the human bones retrieved from the NgLj-2 site, indicating that at least four men had been cannibalized.
The new research reinforces this grim reality. Fitzjames’ mandible displays several cut marks, aligning with the practice of cannibalism.
