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Aliens in Aliens in South South America? America? Did Old World visitors before Did Old World visitors before Columbus affect New World Columbus affect New World technology? technology?

Ra Expedition

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Was Thor Heyerdahl all wet?

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Aliens in Aliens in South South

America?America?Did Old World visitors before Did Old World visitors before Columbus affect New World Columbus affect New World

technology?technology?

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Another unexpected face. Bearded ceramic head of pre-Columbian origin from Rio Balsas, Guerrero, Mexico.

An unexpected face in the New An unexpected face in the New World; evidence of Old World World; evidence of Old World contacts? Low relief carved on back contacts? Low relief carved on back of Precolumbian stone mirror from of Precolumbian stone mirror from Veracruz, Mexico.Veracruz, Mexico.

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From the earliest time of From the earliest time of Western post-Columbian exploration of Western post-Columbian exploration of the New World, there has been the New World, there has been continuous speculation about the origins continuous speculation about the origins of the native civilizations in North, of the native civilizations in North, Central and South America. Central and South America. 

"The Nunnery", a Mayan structure at Chichen Itza, Mexico as drawn by Frederick Catherwood, mid-19th century.

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Noting the existence of temples and palaces Noting the existence of temples and palaces of finely-cut stone and superb architectural of finely-cut stone and superb architectural design, along with other sophisticated design, along with other sophisticated manifestations of material culture, the manifestations of material culture, the explorers and generations of their explorers and generations of their successors found it difficult to reconcile the successors found it difficult to reconcile the populations they decimated with the populations they decimated with the incredible remains of complex societies. incredible remains of complex societies. Survivors from lost continents, settlers from Survivors from lost continents, settlers from Biblical lands and mass migrations from the Biblical lands and mass migrations from the Old World were not uncommon explanationOld World were not uncommon explanation

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Thor Heyerdahl Thor Heyerdahl has long been has long been interested in interested in the history of the history of early seafaring early seafaring and has and has advocated that the oceans, far from being advocated that the oceans, far from being obstacles, could and can be safely crossed on obstacles, could and can be safely crossed on relatively simple watercraft by following the relatively simple watercraft by following the natural conveyances of the winds and currents.natural conveyances of the winds and currents.

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Ra II

He was the best-He was the best-known proponent of known proponent of the idea of human the idea of human travel and cultural travel and cultural exchange across the exchange across the oceans in ancient oceans in ancient times.times.

Th

or H

eyerdah

l T

ho

r Heyerd

ahl

1914-20021914-2002

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"Ra II", the reed ship Thor Heyerdahl used for his expedition across the "Ra II", the reed ship Thor Heyerdahl used for his expedition across the Atlantic, from the coast of Africa southwest toward South America, 1969. Atlantic, from the coast of Africa southwest toward South America, 1969.

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Left above:Left above: Contemporary Contemporary reed boats and boatmen on reed boats and boatmen on Lake Chad, Chad, Africa. Lake Chad, Chad, Africa. Right: Aymara reed boat Right: Aymara reed boat builders at Lake Titicaca, builders at Lake Titicaca, Bolivia, South America.Bolivia, South America.

Right:Right: Examples of Examples of pre-Dynastic pre-Dynastic Egyptian rock art Egyptian rock art depicting depicting what appear to be what appear to be Large reed boats Large reed boats including some including some with sails.with sails.

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““Atmosphere and oceans know no Atmosphere and oceans know no boundaries. I know. I've floated around boundaries. I know. I've floated around every one of them." – Thor Heyerdahlevery one of them." – Thor Heyerdahl

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Did it actually prove that the Egyptians or some Did it actually prove that the Egyptians or some other group of travelers with reed boats other group of travelers with reed boats reached the Americas in ancient times? Of reached the Americas in ancient times? Of course not. It did demonstrate that boats of this course not. It did demonstrate that boats of this sort were certainly capable and seaworthy. One sort were certainly capable and seaworthy. One could argue that in terms of survivability, the could argue that in terms of survivability, the reed boat is equal, if not better, to the much reed boat is equal, if not better, to the much larger ships used by Europeans during the early larger ships used by Europeans during the early centuries of exploration.centuries of exploration.

What did the What did the Ra ExpeditionsRa Expeditions prove?prove?

Reed boats Reed boats still sail the still sail the Tigris River in Tigris River in modern Iraqmodern Iraq

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LinksLinks

http://www.plu.edu/~ryandp/RAX.htmlhttp://www.viajeros.com/article409.htmlhttp://www.songdog.net/blog/archives/000162.htmlhttp://www.htwm.de/abora/csslv/kontakt-h/thumbnails/heyerdahl-port.jpg

The bust of the famous scientist The bust of the famous scientist and explorer Thor Heyerdahl in and explorer Thor Heyerdahl in Larvik is made from Larvikite. Larvik is made from Larvikite.