In almost any branch of science, periods of slow and steady progress or stagnation alternate with periods of rapid development caused by new discoveries or inventions, by the introduction of new methods, or by other accelerating factors. Eskimo archaeology is no exception to this rule and, even if only thirty years have passed since archaeologists first began to search for Eskimo relics, it is already possible to distinguish four periods of development, separated by short interludes of relatively little activity. Of these four periods only the last two fall within the scope of this article, but since the understanding of recent developments in Eskimo archaeology presupposes a knowledge of previous work in that field it is necessary to summarize what was accomplished in the first two periods.

After loading stores at Göteborg and Oslo, the expedition sailed from London on 23 November 1949 in the chartered Norwegian sealing vessel Norsel, G. Jakobsen, master. After calling at Cape Town, where P. G. Law of the Australian Department of External Affairs and J. A. King of the Union Weather Bureau of South Africa joined the vessel as observers, the Norsel headed south on 27 December to meet the Norwegian whaling factory Thorshovdi, which was carrying an advanced party of five men, with sixty dogs and some heavy equipment. An unexpectedly wide detour had to be made across the South Atlantic as the Thorshevdi was at that time in the Scotia Sea.

It was originally planned that the base, which was situated in Dronning Maud Land in lat. 71° 6' S., long. 10° 58' W., should consist of three large and one small huts:

Large hut 1. Accommodation for eight men, radio office, dark room and sick-bay.

Large hut 2. Accommodation for six men, kitchen and mess.

Large hut 3. Workshop, meteorological office and laboratories.

Small hut. Two Diesel generators.

The following notes are intended not as a rigid set of rules but as a guide for future antarctic travellers: common sense must be used in their application. Systematic breeding, training and driving of dogs are essential in an organization as large as the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, but modifications must naturally be made to suit particular requirements.