Basque Whalers of Labrador, The

Synopsis

In Red Bay, Labrador, in 1978, a Basque whaling ship dating from the 16th century was discovered in water only dozens of feet deep. The discovery meant that Basque fisherman had whaled off the coasts of Canada before the earliest settlers so far recorded. The great interest to archaeologists and historians, lay in the knowledge to be gained about whaling and sailing methods from the vessel itself, as well as the basic ways of life of an old independent people. Shows teams of archaeologists excavating the ship’s ruins and the remains of a Basque settlement. The process of the ship’s reconstruction is observed and comments and conclusions are made about the ancient whaling people.

Language

English

Country

Canada

Medium

Film; Film. 16mm. sd. col. 57 min.

Technical information

Black-and-white / Sound

Year of production

1984

Availability

OUT OF DISTRIBUTION

Subjects

Archaeology

Keywords

antiquities; Basque people; Canada; Labrador; Newfoundland; shipwrecks; whaling

Credits

Producer

Paul Cadieux; Thomas Cadieux

Distribution Formats

Type

Film

Format

16mm

Production Company

Name

Adlanut Productions

Sponsor

Name

Basque Telebista

Name

Radio Quebec

Distributor

Name

Canada House Film & Video Library

Notes

closed down 1993