Post #783659 by tikitube on Mon, Feb 5, 2018 1:02 PM

On 2011-09-27 12:00, Limbo Lizard wrote:
The real "Kon-Tiki myth" is that Heyerdahl thought (those we call) the Polynesians came from South America. That is an oversimplified 'strawman' version of his theories. Read American Indians in the Pacific, for more detail and background.
As best I remember: Heyerdahl thought the Polynesians encountered by Europeans were descended primarily from Asians, who traveled the coast north, across into Alaska and down to the Pacific Northwest. From there, some migrated to Hawaii, and from there, to the rest of Polynesia.
They found some of the islands already somewhat populated... by descendants of the people who rafted from South America, bringing certain foods (e.g., sweet potato), and a penchant for monolithic stone carving. The Polynesians conquered them, assimilated some of the people and culture, and wiped out the rest.
Heyerdahl also encountered traditions and stories that many islands had an aboriginal people there, before the South Americans or Polynesians arrived. They were described as darker-skinned, of small stature and negroid-like features. These people the Hawaiians called the "Menehune"; the Maori and Rarotongans, the "Manahune".
Heyerdahl gave serious consideration to the chants, stories and traditions that had been passed down for scores of generations, and used them to help interpret archeological findings, in some cases.
Anyway, I can't remember nearly enough to do justice to Heyerdahl. He collected and studied an abundance of inter-disciplinary material, to form and bolster his theories (that book was over 800 pages). I'm also not saying Heyerdahl was correct. But I've noticed for decades that most experts who dismiss his "crank theory", or declare it's disproved, are not evaluating his actual theory at all.

[ Edited by: Limbo Lizard 2011-09-27 12:24 ]

I feel the need to resurrect this thread since I just finished reading Robert Suggs book "The Hidden Worlds of Polynesia". Not only does he create a straw man by stating that Heyerdahl believes that "all Polynesians" are originally from South America (which is not even close to what Heyerdahl suggested), but Suggs also treats Heyerdahl with ridicule and contempt.

It's really quite sickening to read a book that was written in a very professional and factual tone, and then to run across Suggs' little irrational tantrum about Heyerdahl near the end. What a creep!

Granted, Heyerdahl did take advantage of the natives at times by using their superstitions against them, to procure items for his museum. But I don't recall him underhandedly demeaning his peers that don't agree with him.