{{short description|Historic site in Nunavut, Canada}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Port Refuge | native_name = | native_language = | other_name = | image = | caption = | coordinates ={{coord|76|18|0|N|94|43|0|W |type:landmark_region:CA-NU_scale:250000 |display=inline,title |name=Port Refuge, Nunavut, Canada |notes=<ref>{{cite cgndb |id=OANUX |name=Port Refuge}}</ref>}} | type = | location = {{comma separated entries|1=|2=Nunavut|3=Canada}} |locmapin = Canada Nunavut#Canada |map_caption = Location in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago | nearest_city = | area = | elevation = | height = | beginning_label = Established | beginning_date = 19 June 1978 | formed = | founded = | founder = | built = | built_for = | original_use = | demolished = | rebuilt = | restored = | restored_by = | current_use = | architect = | sculptor = | architecture = | visitors_num = | visitors_year = | visitors_ref = | governing_body = | owner = | year of event = | events = | website = | designation1 = National Historic Site of Canada | designation1_offname = | designation1_date = | designation1_number = | designation2 = | designation2_offname = | designation2_date = | designation2_number =
}} '''Port Refuge''' is located off the south coast of Grinnell Peninsula in a small bay on the south coast of Devon Island in Nunavut, Canada.<ref name=DFHD>{{DFHD|333|Port Refuge National Historic Site of Canada}}</ref><ref name=CRHP>{{CRHP|16024|Port Refuge National Historic Site of Canada}}</ref> The site received its current name by Sir Edward Belcher when he sought refuge there in 1852–1853 from moving ice during his voyage in search of the missing Franklin Expedition.<ref name=CE>{{cite encyclopedia |last=McGhee |first=Robert |title=Port Refuge |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia |date=8 July 2014 |publisher=Historica Canada |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/port-refuge}}</ref>
Port Refuge contains archaeological evidence of early human occupation of the High Arctic over the last 4000 years. There is evidence of Paleo-Eskimo and Pre-Dorset culture occupations.<ref name=CE/> Earliest occupation was Independence I culture at approximately 2000 BCE. There is evidence of the Thule culture occupation from 1200 to 1500 CE.<ref name=CRHP/><ref name=CE/>
There is a Thule winter village including five winter houses near the entrance to the bay containing Norse and Asiatic objects.<ref name=DFHD/> These show evidence of trade with medieval Norse colonies of Greenland.<ref name=CRHP/>
Port Refuge was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1978.<ref name=DFHD/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{cite book |last=McGhee |first=Robert |chapter=Independence I Occupations at Port Refuge |title=Palaeoeskimo Occupations at Port Refuge, High Arctic Canada |pages=8–86 |publisher=University of Ottawa Press |date=1979 |doi=10.2307/j.ctt22zmf1t.4 |isbn=978-1-7728-2087-4}} * {{cite book |last=McGhee |first=Robert |chapter=The Pre-Dorset Occupation of Port Refuge |title=Palaeoeskimo Occupations at Port Refuge, High Arctic Canada |pages=87–106 |publisher=University of Ottawa Press |date=1979 |doi=10.2307/j.ctt22zmf1t.5 |isbn=978-1-7728-2087-4}} {{Protected Areas of Nunavut}}{{NHSC}}
Category:Inuit culture Category:National Historic Sites in Nunavut Category:Archaeological sites in Nunavut Category:Franklin's lost expedition Category:1978 establishments in the Northwest Territories Category:Protected areas established in 1978 Category:Indigenous archaeology of Canada