More than 170 years after the Franklin ship HMS TerrorSA国际影视传媒檚 fate was sealed at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean, archeologists have finally taken a look inside the sunken vessel.

A remotely-operated underwater vehicle entered the ship several times earlier this month, revealing an SA国际影视传媒渁stonishingSA国际影视传媒� number of well-preserved artifacts in the cold waters of Terror Bay, off the coast of King William Island.

The researchers saw glass bottles, silverware, dinner plates, desks, cabinets, chests, scientific instruments and a surveyorSA国际影视传媒檚 tripod, among other objects.

SA国际影视传媒淚n every single cabin and compartment there are things to see. It was sort of one discovery after the next,SA国际影视传媒� said Ryan Harris, Parks CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 lead archeologist and project director, who added that high-definition footage was shot of approximately 90 per cent of the shipSA国际影视传媒檚 lower deck from Aug. 9-15.

The only closed door that the underwater device encountered was to Capt. Francis CrozierSA国际影视传媒檚 bed chamber.

SA国际影视传媒淭he wreck offers an astounding opportunity to enter into the lives of the sailors on board,SA国际影视传媒� said Harris, who noted that no human remains were detected on the historic vessel.

Archeologists estimate that thousands of artifacts SA国际影视传媒� jointly owned by the Inuit and the Government of Canada SA国际影视传媒� exist at the site of the Terror and its sister ship the Erebus.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e very, very enthusiastic about what we stand to find in the future,SA国际影视传媒� Harris said.

There was no plan to retrieve any artifacts from the Terror this season. However, Parks CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 dive crew has moved on to the Erebus and theySA国际影视传媒檙e aiming to bring some of the items from that ship to the surface until mid-September.

A brown bottle was one of the first objects fetched from Erebus on Aug. 26. It will be sent to an Ottawa laboratory for analysis, along with other retrieved artifacts. Select items from the Erebus will be taken to Gjoa Haven and temporarily put on display for residents at the conclusion of this summerSA国际影视传媒檚 exploration.

Archeological assistant Jonathan Puqiqnak, who hails from Gjoa Haven, is getting a sneak peek at the artifacts as heSA国际影视传媒檚 joined the dive crew aboard the research vessel RV David Thompson.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 new for me, a new experience,SA国际影视传媒� said Puqiqnak, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 had an interest in archeology since being introduced to the subject during his school years.

HeSA国际影视传媒檚 spending his days maintaining the diversSA国际影视传媒� tanks and compressors, co-ordinating between the boat and barge and cleaning the retrieved artifacts. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 been talk of Puqiqnak, who has worked with the Inuit Guardians during the past two summers, trying some dive training in the future.

Parks Canada has described the exploration of the Franklin ships as the SA国际影视传媒渓argest, most complex underwater archeological undertaking in Canadian history.SA国际影视传媒�

All 129 Franklin crew members ultimately perished after the Erebus and Terror became lodged in Arctic ice in 1846. The trapped ships eventually sank while attempting to traverse the Northwest Passage on behalf of Britain, under the guidance of explorer Sir John Franklin.

Franklin ship artifacts will be displayed at the Nattilik Heritage Centre in Gjoa Haven in the years to come. Upon the conclusion of the Inuit Impact Benefits Agreement with Parks Canada, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association will take the lead on expanding the heritage centre. Work on that project is expected to begin SA国际影视传媒渋n earnestSA国际影视传媒� in early 2020, said Jason Bouzanis, Parks CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 national director of communications.

Bouzanis added that the budget for this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 underwater expedition wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be tabulated until all the work is complete.