For centuries, sailors around the world died of scurvy. All except the Basques

The article explains why scurvy killed European sailors for centuries, while Basque whalers appear to have been far less affected.

A likely reason was their shipboard diet, including preserved foods and drinks such as cider and txakoli, which may have supplied vitamin C.

It also traces the Basque Atlantic whaling network and the history of the San Juan shipwreck in Labrador.

Archaeological findings from Red Bay, along with archival records and the work of Selma Barkham and Parcs Canada, help confirm Basque presence in North America.