2010-11 Skua investigating Depot 2 before excavation, Cape Royds (001)

Skua investigating Depot 2 artefacts before excavation at Cape Royds. The Skua population scavenging historic food was the key driver for boxing the food tin remnants, an approach supported and recommended by Antarctic scientists, Antarctica New Zealand, and MFAT. During the 2010-11 season, Conservators Cricket Harbeck and Diana Komejan worked on the excavation of tinned artefacts and box parts from the cache area on the plateau above and to the south, known as Depot 2. The excavation was undertaken due to environmental concerns around food products and corroding iron as ongoing environmental contaminants. Excavated materials were placed in modern boxes, the design of which loosely imitates Venesta crates. Artefacts and historic box fragments were placed in the new crates; wherever possible in the orientation they were found. The artefacts (tins) were double bagged using perforated plastic bags then open ziplock bags. This was to allow continued moisture evaporation, but maintain object separation. The majority of the tins were dry. Placement of the modern crates mirrors the original location of historic crate remains.