Kontiki

Kontiki is a type of raft that was used by the Inca Empire and other pre-Columbian South American cultures. The Kontiki was made of balsa wood and other native materials, and was used for long-distance ocean voyages. The most famous Kontiki voyage was undertaken by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl in 1947, who sailed from Peru to Polynesia to demonstrate that ancient South American cultures could have colonized the Pacific islands.

History

The Kontiki was used by the Inca Empire and other pre-Columbian South American cultures for long-distance ocean voyages. The raft was made of balsa wood and other native materials, and was capable of carrying a small crew and cargo. The Kontiki was named after the Inca sun god, Kon-Tiki, who was said to have been the ancestral hero of the Inca people.

Thor Heyerdahl's Kontiki Expedition

In 1947, Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl undertook a voyage on a Kontiki raft from Peru to Polynesia. Heyerdahl's aim was to demonstrate that ancient South American cultures could have colonized the Pacific islands. The voyage was successful, and Heyerdahl's book about the expedition, The Kon-Tiki Expedition: By Raft Across the South Seas, became an international bestseller.

Construction

The Kontiki raft was constructed using traditional methods and materials. The main structure of the raft was made from balsa wood, which was lashed together using ropes made from native plants. The raft was also equipped with a sail, which was made from woven plant fibers.

Legacy

The Kontiki expedition had a significant impact on our understanding of pre-Columbian South American cultures and their potential for oceanic exploration. It also inspired a number of other similar expeditions, and has been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries.

See also

• Inca Empire
• Thor Heyerdahl
• The Kon-Tiki Expedition: By Raft Across the South Seas