Scott's Expedition Base, Cape Evans
The expedition base associated with Captain Robert Falcon Scott's attempt for the South Pole is located at Cape Evans.
For decades, the site has withstood some of the most extreme weather in the world. But in recent years extreme environmental conditions have put the building at real risk of loss and as a result it has previously been listed on the 100 Most Endangered Sites on Earth.
However work is well underway to save the site and since 2008 conservation experts have been working year round on the project.
Project Timing: 2008 -2014.
Planning: Conservation Plan and Implementation Plan prepared.
Fundraising. Fundraising is steady. This project was kick started by the UK Government and further boosted by the British based February Foundation which has put in place a matched funding challenge which sees every donation matched 1:1.
Summary of Work Completed To Date
UPDATE: our 2009/10 summer conservation team has been onsite at various times since November 2009. The team is scheduled to come off the Ice in February 2010 and we will post an update on progress as soon as the reports are in.
Artefact Conservation. Since 2008 international teams have been working year round in Antarctica conserving the 8,000+ artefact collection and as at ealry 2010 over 2,400 artefacts have been conserved. Over the life of the programme the artefacts will be transported in stages to Scott Base for conservation. Artefacts considered too large or fragile will be conserved onsite.
Weatherproofing the Building. The Southern and Eastern Walls are now weatherproofed. Work included removing the cladding and installing layers of weatherproofing material and a waterproof dam (half a metre into the ground) to stop snow melt entering the building. General repairs have been undertaken on the cladding and the contemporary windows removed and replaced with the original windows (recovered from the stables). The conservation team will complete the weather-proofing of the Western Wall during the 2009/10 summer.
Removal of ice from underneath the floor of the building. The centre third of the timber floor and lino (five layers) were lifted to expose the wooden joists and an estimated 50 cubic metres of ice removed before the floor was relaid. Ponting's darkroom will undergo similar treatment during the 2009/10 summer.
Excavation of Bowers Annex. The annex (originally made up of provision boxes and roofed with canvas which extended the line of the hut roof along the southern exterior wall and allowed all-weather access from the porch door) has been excavated and the food boxes temporarily removed for conservation.
Installation of Long Term Snow and Ice Mitigation Measures. Five vortex generators (funded by The Getty Foundation) are currently being trialled and have been installed behind the southern aspect of the hut. The generators, which rotate and point into the wind at an angle of 15 degrees are designed to create turbulent air flow to reduce the snow build up on the southern and eastern aspects of the hut.
Related Links and Documents
Go back to read about the status of each of the other expedition bases.