Cold comfort

About this book

In 1936 the least-known area of Canada was the west coast of Baffin Island, part of which was still unexplored. Graham Rowley went to the Arctic as the archaeologist of a small British expedition to map and investigate this uncharted area. Cold Comfort is a personal account of his experiences in the North before World War II and his remembrances of a bygone age in arctic history. Apart from completing the map of Baffin Island's coastline and finding new islands, Rowley excavated the first pure Dorset site near Igloolik, establishing the Dorset culture beyond doubt. The carvings and artifacts found there, illustrations of which are included in this book, remain among the best and most beautiful that have been recovered. Based on his own diary and the diaries of other members of the expedition, Rowley's captivating story presents the perceptions of a young man faced with a completely alien, yet fascinating, environment and culture. A true and often exciting tale of discovery, Cold Comfort will appeal to a wide audience as well as to those concerned with the Arctic in general. It is an invaluable source for those who specialize in the archaeology, anthropology, geography, and history of northern Canada.