In 1947, Thor Heyerdahl led the Kon-Tiki expedition, crossing the Pacific Ocean from Peru to the Tuamotu Islands on a balsa raft to test theories of ancient peoples' migration. His aim was to show the feasibility of South American voyagers reaching Polynesia, contrasting with prevailing scientific consensus that Polynesia was settled from the west. Although he was ultimately proven wrong, Heyerdahl's four-month journey became a hallmark of experimental archaeology, leading to a bestselling book and a deeper discussion of Polynesian settlement origins.
Heyerdahl's successful crossing of the Pacific on a balsa-wood raft demonstrated the possibility that ancient peoples could have sailed from South America to Polynesia.
Kon-Tiki exemplified experimental archaeology, testing theories by physically demonstrating the feasibility of ancient transoceanic migration.
Thor Heyerdahl's voyage was inspired by Polynesian legends, arguing that early voyagers from South America influenced the settlement of Polynesia.
Despite modern scientists disagreeing with his theories, Heyerdahl's expedition captivated audiences and contributed significantly to discussions around historical migration.
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