Who Settled Easter Island?
by Dr. Steven Roger Fisher

For historical linguistics has proved that the current Rapanui language of Easter Island is wholly Southeastern Polynesian; there is no trace of it having replaced a preexistant tongue there.

Archaeologists have found on Easter Island not one piece of woven fabric, pottery, or maize—the three staples of prehistoric Andean societies. And modern DNA analyses have determined that no foreign admixture diluted the exclusively Polynesian genome in ancient Easter Island skeletal remains.

The jury’s unanimous verdict: Polynesians alone settled ancient Easter Island. The Southeastern Polynesian culture they introduced around AD 600 proceeded to construct elaborate ceremonial centers called “ahu” and, in subsequent centuries, began erecting giant stone busts of venerated ancestors—the “moai” which have since become a Pacific icon.

With the Far Horizons tour to Easter Island you’ll not only learn about this and so much more, but
you’ll wander the ahu, marvel at hundreds of mute moai, and thrill at the vibrant modern culture of the same settlers’ direct descendants during their exciting Tapati Festival: a breathtaking celebration of colorful past and dynamic present.

Travel with Dr. Fischer to Easter Island departing January 31, 2006.

 

University of Pennsylvania Archaeologists
Return to Iran after 26 Years

Tehran, 22 August 2005 (CHN) – A newly signed memorandum of understanding foresees the cooperations of Iranian archaeologists and those of the University of Pennsylvania for carrying out joint excavations in Iran, exchanging students, and providing the opportunity for Iranian experts to participate in the archaeological studies of Pennsylvania University around the world.

The agreement brings the University’s archaeologists back to Iran after 26 years, when they left their work in key Iranian historical sites including Hanslu in Western Azarbaijan due to the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

The agreement, signed by director of Iran’s Archaeology Research Center, Masud Azarnush, and director of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Richard M. Leventhal, foresees a five-year cooperation between Iranian and American experts, announced director of the International Affairs Office of Iran’s Archaeology Research Center, Karim Alizadeh.

The University of Pennsylvania is the second American Institute, following the Oriental Institute of Chicago University, to sign an agreement for archaeological cooperation with Iran during the last two years.

Cultural Heritage and Tourism officials of Iran have been actively trying to reintroduce and revive the country’s archaeology by welcoming foreign experts to the sites and studies in the past three years. One such attempt was holding a conference on archaeology of South West Asia in 2003 which was attended by some famous figures of the domain including Professor Holly Pittman, curator of the Near East Section of the University of Pennsylvania Museum.

Join Dr. Pittman on Far Horizons’ Tour of Iran, May 19 - June 4, 2006