Back to Antarctica 2022 Season Blog

Port Lockroy team members Kit Adams and Lucy Dorman, along with Conservation Carpenter Tank Adams, are finally travelling to Port Lockroy as we approach almost two years away from Antarctica. They will carry out essential assessments and repairs to our sites as well as lay a power cable to connect Bransfield House to the solar array installed on the Nissen Hut. The team will also install a new weather station funded by our Big Give campaign and get to work on the penguin survey. While Penguin Post Office isn't reopening in its usual capacity for now, Kit and Lucy will be handling any post that arrives at Port Lockroy. Follow their journey below.

Back to Antarctica 2022 Season Blog

Port Lockroy team members Kit Adams and Lucy Dorman, along with Conservation Carpenter Tank Adams, are finally travelling to Port Lockroy as we approach almost two years away from Antarctica. They will carry out essential assessments and repairs to our sites as well as lay a power cable to connect Bransfield House to the solar array installed on the Nissen Hut. The team will also install a new weather station funded by our Big Give campaign and get to work on the penguin survey. While Penguin Post Office isn't reopening in its usual capacity for now, Kit and Lucy will be handling any post that arrives at Port Lockroy. Follow their journey below.

2022: Blog | New discoveries

08/03/2022

Little did I think that when writing the last blog about rediscovering lost artefacts that I would be able to follow on so swiftly with something quite so relevant.

This season, we have been fortunate enough to be supported by HMS Protector. We met them in the Falklands where we were welcomed with open arms for our journey South. We have been lucky enough to see them a couple of times this season and now we have just a final, and important, meeting left - our lift home. Their last welfare check really was quite the event. We had been invited on board for dinner, laundry and most importantly the first shower in 6 weeks, which we were firmly told was to happen before food. All in all a good night out.

Pictured: newly discovered markings along with maps on whale bone at Port Lockroy

The next day on the island we gained further invaluable support, from electricians assisting with our new weather station installation to keen crew members undeterred by the grunt and guano work that would not have been possible with a team of three. It was during one of these less desirable guano filled tasked that they helped discover two previously unrecorded artefacts. During the excavation of the back of Bransfield House, an earthware jar and a map of the local area, including Goudier, Bills, Boogie and Woogie islands, were found. This has lead to a flurry of activity with specialists the world over being consulted as to the best way for us to conserve both of these artefacts, before the rapidly approaching winter chases us from the Antarctic. 

It turns out that Bransfield House and Goudier Island, on this occasion, were ready to give us a further intimate glimpse, which we were fortunate enough to share with new found friends, into their ever growing wealth of history.

Thank you to all of those members of HMS Protector that helped us on the island and all of those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make all of this possible. We are thoroughly looking forward to seeing you in a few short weeks and for the journey back North (sea sickness aside).  

Kit Adams, Port Lockroy General Assistant 2021 - 2022

Follow the team's progress on social media using #BacktoAntarctica

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