A century-old cake discovered in Antarctica has been described as 'almost edible'.
Conservation workers with the New Zealand-based Antarctic Heritage Trust discovered the fruit cake still wrapped in paper and held in 'the remains' of a tin.
Despite the condition of the tin, the cake is said to have been in 'excellent condition', and "looked and smelt (almost) edible".
No doubt this will spark debate about who likes fruit cake...@InspireExplore conservators find 106 yr old fruit cake in hut in #antarctica pic.twitter.com/2RdvgTJ8BB
— Antarctic Heritage (@InspireExplore) August 10, 2017
It is believed the cake - which was made by the Huntley & Palmers biscuit company - dates back to the Northern Party of British explorer Robert Falcon Scott’s ultimately doomed Terra Nova expedition, which took place between 1910 and 1913.
The cake was discovered at Cape Adare, where a group of explorers were based.
The trust's Lizzie Meek explained: “With just two weeks to go on the conservation of the Cape Adare artefacts, finding such a perfectly preserved fruitcake in amongst the last handful of unidentified and severely corroded tins was quite a surprise.
"It’s an ideal high-energy food for Antarctic conditions, and is still a favourite item on modern trips to the Ice.”
Huts at Cape Adare are said to be the first building's in Antarctica, and "are the only examples left of humanity’s first building on any continent".
Artefacts discovered at the site will be returned following conservation work.
