by Donna Cosmato

Created on: June 17, 2009

"We seem to believe that the ocean is endless...we use it like a sewer". Thor Heyerdahl

Thor Heyerdahl was born with a natural curiosity and eagerness to explore. This amazing man, born in Norway in 1914, became a: scholar, sailor, author, ethnologist, philosopher, archaeologist, and environmentalist. Here are a few of his amazing voyages.

Thor Heyerdahl

American Presidency Project

His theories about cross-cultural migration are still considered controversial, but the success of his voyages and the results of his archaeological expeditions are undeniable. His life and work provided a wealth of examples to support his belief that ancient people sailed and explored more of the world than was thought possible.

Time Detective

Heyerdahl

Heyerdahl sailed under the United Nations (UN) flag, and always recruited a multi-cultural, diverse team. This proved his theory that people could live and work together as a group regardless of cultural backgrounds and opinions.

Kon-Tiki Voyage 1947

His first voyage was on the Kon-Tiki, a balsa raft fashioned after South American style vessels. The goal of the journey was to test his theory of eastern migration by South Americans to colonize the Polynesian Islands. The accepted scientific theory of the era claimed Asians migrating from the west had colonized the islands. This 101 day voyage of over 4,000 miles proved the possibility of trade and cultural exchanges between Africans, South Americans, and the Pacific Islanders.

Film footage of the voyage won an Academy Award in 1952 for Best Documentary. His book about the Pacific voyage has been translated into 67 languages and captures the imagination of all ages of readers.

Kon-Tiki

Galapagos Islands Expedition

Voyage number two provided evidence of visitation by South Americans to the Galapagos Islands and verified visits pre-dating the Columbians. Heyerdahl demonstrated that balsa rafts equipped with primitive technology like guara keels could sail into the wind and be maneuvered through the currents, challenging conventional ideas about ancient sea travel.

Easter Island, North American Archaeological Expedition 1955-1956

Easter Island, with a dependable water supply, was the logical destination for Heyerdahl's next voyage. His prevailing theory at this time was that prehistoric people in reed boats could have migrated eastward to the island. Showcase discoveries were pre-Incan type statutes and houses.

Easter Island

Aymara Reed Boat Builders

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