Newfoundland and Labrador
Geographical Location:
51,73° N – 56,82 ° W
Red Bay is the most complete and best-preserved example known of a 16th century Basque whaling station.
© Parks Canada |
In Red Bay are found underwater and terrestrial archaeological sites representative of a 16th century Basque whaling station in North America. They contain archaeological evidence of all the major elements of Basque whaling and associated activities, including tryworks, cooperages, workshops, dwellings, wharves, burial sites and lookouts. Submerged cultural resources include the well-preserved remains of a number of vessels that illustrate 16th century Iberian technology, including three whaling ships, two chalupas and a pinanza. No known Dutch, English, or Basque whaling station equals Red Bay in the number and completeness of cultural resources illustrating the whaling industry technology of this period.