How a forgotten 16th-century Basque whaling station became a global archaeological treasure

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 1530s, Basque mariners established a massive industrial whaling hub on the rugged coast of Labrador. For decades, they processed whale oil to light the streets of Europe. Today, this site offers the most complete record of early European whaling, hidden beneath the waves and along the shore.

Known to its founders as Gran Baya, the Red Bay site served as a seasonal industrial base from approximately 1550 to 1625. Basque whalers utilized the natural harbour protected by Saddle Island to hunt, butcher, and render whale fat into oil. This product was vital for European lighting, and the site remains a testament to this early transatlantic commercial enterprise. The archaeological remains include rendering ovens, cooperages, wharves, and living quarters, alongside underwater deposits of whale bones and shipwrecks.

The site's significance was largely unknown until 1972, when historian Selma Barkham began archival research that brought Basque activity in Canadian waters to light. Subsequent surveys in 1977 uncovered compelling physical evidence, including clay roofing tiles and stone foundations. This led to the discovery of the wreck site 24M in 1978, which is widely believed to be the San Juan. The ship likely sank during a storm at the end of a season, fully loaded with barrels of oil intended for the return journey to Europe.

Preserving the 24M wreck presented a unique challenge. Because conservation funds were insufficient to maintain the structural components on land, archaeologists pioneered a massive reburial project in 1985. The wreck was returned to the water in a controlled environment designed to replicate the anaerobic conditions that had kept it intact for centuries. This innovative approach, which is still monitored today, ensures the site remains the best-preserved example of its kind. Red Bay was designated a National Historic Site in 1979 and achieved UNESCO World Heritage status in 2013.

The site spans 600 hectares, encompassing both land and underwater features. It serves as a critical window into a period of history that was almost entirely omitted from Canadian records prior to the late 20th century. By mapping and recording these finds in situ, researchers have secured a permanent, detailed record of the Basque whaling tradition that once dominated the Strait of Belle Isle.

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