This undertaking –which verifies the activity of sealers first and whalers later as the first human activity in Antarctica, way earlier than the era of scientific explorations still going on- results from several years of inquiries, research, field work (1994/2007), verifications, and laboratory analysis as a contribution to the rooting of Argentine maritime culture and another landmark of Argentine presence in Antarctica. In publishing this work, we intend to contribute to the goals of the International Polar Year drawing worldwide attention on Polar issues from historical point of view.
