DNA Confirms Franklin Expedition Captain Was Cannibalized by Crew

New analysis identifies remains of Capt. James Fitzjames, revealing grim survival tactics of the 1845 Arctic mission.

Researchers used DNA analysis to identify remains found on King William Island as those of Capt. James Fitzjames.
Cut marks on Fitzjames' mandible provide concrete evidence of cannibalism among the expedition's survivors.
The Franklin expedition, which set sail in 1845 to find the Northwest Passage, became icebound, leading to the death of all 129 crew members.
Inuit accounts from the 19th century had reported cannibalism, but these were long dismissed by European contemporaries.
The study underscores the extreme desperation faced by the crew, challenging previous assumptions about the expedition's final days.