Posted on 12/15/2001 6:12:19 PM PST by TopQuark
Comments?
Remember "Kon Tiki"? Heyerdahl claimed that Polynesians came from South America.
DNA and language studies disproved THAT theory.
The same will be true of the latest Half-baked Heyerdahl Hypothesis.
Here's a quote I dug up from Nebulus.org.
Likewise, scholars say they have laid to rest the notion, made popular in
the 1950's by the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, that the original
people were Indians from South America. He thought he saw similarities
between Pre-Columbian Peruvian and Easter Island architecture. To make his
point that such contact was possible, he sailed westward from Peru in a reed
raft named the Kon-Tiki.
Linguistic, cultural and genetic evidence, most anthropologists agree, shows
that the people of Rapa Nui were Polynesians. Their language is Polynesian,
though it has changed so radically as to indicate an early separation from
the home culture and centuries of isolation. The few surviving examples of
ancient writing are in a script that has yet to be deciphered. The statues
and other artifacts bear a Polynesian imprint, and in 1994, the DNA from 12
Easter Island skeletons was found to be Polynesian.
THE SETTLERS Polynesians Found Isle Next to Nowhere
The first settlers apparently arrived from the west by canoe sometime
between A.D. 400 and 750. This was a time of epic voyages of Pacific
settlement. The migrating Polynesians, originally from Southeast Asia, had
reached Tahiti and the Marquesas islands by 300 before going on to discover
and occupy Hawaii and New Zealand.
As a Norwegian American, I must say that I've been impressed with Thor's work, which I began looking at by reading 'The Ra Expedition' many years ago. That said, I'm continually amazed at the "concrete conclusions" some of these people arrive at. The fact that humanity has a commonality was impressed upon me as a small child, in Sunday school. (see the Book of Genesis)......
Anyway, I didn't realize that Thor was still alive, so I learned something new today! Good post!
OK, my geography could be faulty, but I believe that sailing westward from Peru would be mighty tough going.
When I was in Budapest three years ago, I visited the display, in the national cathedral, of the crown of St. Stephen (the first Magyar king, about 900 AD). There was abundant proof that the style of the Byzantine-style icons on the crown was identical to that of the Caucasian nation of Georgia of about 400 AD, and I believe that the conclusion was that the Magyars were living in what is today the western Abkhazian province of Goergia.
This would bode particularly well for the Genesis account of Noah's flood and the sudden emergence of peoples from this region.
For the Norwegians to trace their ancestry to this region is entirely plausible as is the Irish having legends of Scythian forebears from western Anatolia. Dont forget, the most ancient known civilizations of Sumeria and Babylon are adjacent to this region.
Now there's an odd notion. What sort of god would fear a human army? And people believed in this guy? Assuming there was a historical Odin from whom the myth of the great god evolved, I bet no one believed in his deity during his lifetime, especially if his claim to fame was running away from the Romans.
I share petuniasevan's skepticism re Heyderdahl's theory. Really appreciate you posting this interesting article, though. I read Kon Tiki back when I was in elementary school (I believe). Hardly remember anything about it, but I found it thrilling then. A shame to find out it was junk science; it was an excellent story.
This may have some basis, it may not. I will try and find some additional resources on this. The Gods/Goddesses in northern european tradition very many times were intimately connected to the land, so the basic idea is not completely far off course. For example Forseti represented the Friesien people of Holland, Seaxnot represented the Saxon peoples of England/central europe and Gefjon represented the peoples on the Island of Zealand/Sjaelland in Denmark.
Its extremely hard to determine the accuracy of this thesis however as even most scholars and archeologists have mixed hypotheses on the origins.
Very interesting article though, thanks for the post TQ.
If his version is correct in some ways, I think his dating is to late. These people of Europe came westward earlier than 97 AD.
Perhaps ironically, while the Vikings of Denmark and Norway mainly plundered around the west coast of Europe, the Swedes went east, down the Volga River, and became guards to the royals, in the eastern orthodox lands, Black Sea area, etc. These Norsemen figured quite heavily in the history of Russia. The largest hordes of Byzantine coins ever discovered are in Sweden. So these Swedes were just making a pilgrimage to their earlier homeland!
Side comment. Another thread about Kasey Casem trumpets the Arab Americans. I submit that Scandinavians have had a HUGE impact on culture, considering their small numbers.
Consider their certain discovery of North America. Add impact upon of of Britain and Ireland. The English, Scots and Irish have very much Viking blood. The English system of government drew heavily from the Norsemen, who first arrived in 793 at Lindesfarne, England.
The "Normans" (French speaking Danes) conquered northern France and later England. They also conquered southern Italy and parts of the middle east.
The largest fraction of the English language is drawn from Continental German, followed by Old Norse, French (more like Latin at the time) and a bit of Celtic.
Today the population of Norway is but 4 million. Sweden about 9 million. Denmark about 12 or 14 million-didn't look it up.
Actually, it wasn't a reed raft at all. Was made of balsa logs. I guess you could call the Ra's reed boats, though. Details here:
As for the theory, it doesn't seem to be more than that the journey would have been possible.
The Goths originate on Gotland in the Baltic Sea which was populated as early as 6000 BC. From there they radiate outwards to continental Europe, including many who go up the rivers in Poland and White Russia, and down the rivers of the Ukraine to the Black Sea. This is all prior to the Roman Empire. Later, they are pushed westwards against the Roman Empire and figure in its fall. Lastly, the Heruls emigrate back to Sweden and introduce the Aesir religion into the region (Odin, et al).
For more on the story see "Reasons and prelude to the Viking age, the arrival of the Svear in the 6th century".
Also the second part of Sutton Hoo -- The Gothic-Gotlandic link
Where do the recently (within the last two years) discovered Celtic structures in New Zealand fit into this picture?
Sounds a bit like ASHER, as in the Tribe of, and ASER as quoted by Thor, doesn't it? That would probably put the date somewhat after 620 BC.
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