August 23, 2017
The Antarctic Heritage Trust, known for managing the physical heritage of human endeavor in Antarctica through a sustainable conservation program has recently made an unexpected and intriguing discovery.
In May 2016 a team has collected about 1500 artifacts from the huts of Cape Adare situated in Antarctica. Recently they recovered over a Fruitcake that is over 100 years old. It is said that fruitcake was one of Robert Falcom’s favorite snacks and that this discovery was from an expedition that took place between 1910 and 1913. Robert Falcon and his team were stationed in Cape Adare for their Terra Nova expedition at this time. The fruitecake made by the British Biscuit company “Huntley & Palmers”, was found in a rusty tin, but it appeared edible.
“Finding such a perfectly preserved fruitcake in amongst the last handful of unidentified and severely corroded tins was quite a surprise. It’s an ideal high-energy food for Antarctic conditions, and is still a favorite item on modern trips to the ice,” says Lizzie Meek, Manager of Antarctica Heritage Trust’s artifacts.