Thor Heyerdahl was a Norwegian
anthropologist and archaeologist.best known for his archaeological
expeditions Peru to
Polynesia. aboard the Kon-Tiki,
a
tiny balsawood raft, that demonstrated that ancient peoples could have
sailed to and populated the South Pacific.
His adventures offered evidence that trade and
cultural exchange could have taken place between Africa and the Americas as
well as between Pacific Islanders and South Americans. Thor's account of his
Pacific crossing, Kon-Tiki (1950). has been published in 67 languages
and once inspired hundreds of hotels to open Kon-Tiki bars and
restaurants.
Thor's interests in anthropology and archeology were encouraged by his
mother who was head of the
local museum. in 1936,
Thor and his new bride travelled took a memorable honeymoon trip in
1936 to the Marquesan archipelago in Pacific where he spent a year on
a remote island living off the land ,getting to learn more about the native population which included a man whose
father was a cannibal.
After serving in the Norwegian Army in World
War II, Thor headed a 1947 expedition across the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands. He
later wrote. "There were moments during every one of my experimental raft
voyages that I was momentarily deadly afraid and - like seafarers throughout
the ages in similar situations - I felt that I survived through my faith in
some superior invisible power. Gradually, I got familiar with the friendly
partnership between the dancing ocean and its gentle playmate - the
flexible, wash-through aboriginal raft ship. My companions knew I loved life
and assumed I had founded my unshakable faith in my scientific theories on
solid facts."
Thor subsequently led the first
archaeological expedition to Easter Island in 1955-56 where he discovered
the now-famous Easter Island giant statues which he believed were
constructed around 1100 AD when the Birdman Cult arrived and created them to
honor their ancestors.
So to celebrate Thor's birthday, let's toast
him with a Kon Tiki cocktail and rent a DVD of his
Academy-Award winning documentary film
Kon Tiki (1950). |