Thor Heyerdahls Ra expedition, 1969
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Thor Heyerdahls Ra expedition, 1969
Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002), at right, Norwegian ethnographer and explorer, on the papyrus boat Ra with a fellow crew member. Heyerdahl used local materials to build rafts to test his theories that ancient peoples were able to cross the worlds oceans. The Ra expedition of 1969 attempted to cross the Atlantic, but the raft sunk. A later expedition the following year succeeded in sailing the Ra II from Africa to Barbados. Heyerdahls first and most famous expedition was in the Pacific in 1947, on the Kon-Tiki balsa wood raft
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Media ID 6411236
© RIA NOVOSTI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1900s 1960s 1969 Adventurer Atlantic Ocean Boat Crew Ethnography Fifties Norwegian Portraits Raft Sailing Sailing Ship Sailors Surname H Coco Nut Ethnographer Mono Chrome
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in history - Thor Heyerdahl's Ra expedition of 1969. Standing proudly at the right is Thor Heyerdahl himself, a renowned Norwegian ethnographer and explorer. Alongside him stands his fellow crew member, both ready to embark on an audacious journey across the vast Atlantic Ocean. Heyerdahl's groundbreaking theory suggested that ancient civilizations were capable of traversing oceans using primitive materials. In this daring expedition, he constructed a papyrus boat named Ra with locally sourced resources. Unfortunately, their first attempt ended in failure as the raft sank beneath the waves. Undeterred by adversity, Heyerdahl returned the following year with Ra II and successfully sailed from Africa to Barbados, proving his theories correct. However, it was his initial Pacific expedition in 1947 aboard the Kon-Tiki balsa wood raft that brought him worldwide fame. In this monochromatic image from 1969, we witness two adventurers united by their passion for exploration and discovery. The duo stands on their makeshift vessel amidst an oceanic backdrop - symbolizing human determination against nature's might. Thor Heyerdahl's legacy as an intrepid sailor and ethnographer continues to inspire generations today. This photograph serves as a testament to his unwavering spirit and relentless pursuit of knowledge about our ancestors' seafaring capabilities during ancient times.
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