Iconic Arctic Shipwrecks, Archaeology, and Museum Narratives

Abstract

This article reflects on three Arctic shipwrecks currently being reclaimed for future exhibition. Two are icons of polar exploration. <i>Maud</i> was built for Roald Amundsen's North Pole expedition (1917–1925) and <i>Belgica</i> was used in the first Antarctic overwintering expedition (1897–1899). The salvage of <i>Maud</i> in Canada and the ship's return to Norway in 2018 was privately financed. Raising <i>Belgica</i> has been the goal of a Belgian non‐profit organization. The third is a medieval Norwegian wreck excavated in 2017 with community funding. The role of each ship as icon and archaeological heritage is assessed and framed within a broader discussion of museum narratives.