A museum in Oslo, Norway, is returning artifacts and human remains taken by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl in the late 1940s to Chile's remote territory of Easter Island. Heyerdahl sailed on a log raft named Kon-Tiki from Peru to Polynesia in 101 days in 1947 to prove his theory that the South Sea Islands were settled by seafarers from South America. He brought back 5,600 objects from Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, and this marks the third time items taken by him are being returned.
The collaboration between the Kon-Tiki Museum, Chile, and Rapa Nui's local authorities has facilitated the return of these items. The museum's head, Liv Heyerdahl, expressed pride in the achievement, stating that the objects were brought to Norway with a promise of eventual return. Among the items being returned this time are human remains called Ivi Tepuna and sculpted stones.
A delegation from Rapa Nui traveled to Norway to collect the items, with a ritual ceremony held at the Oslo museum to awaken the spirits of the remains. The delegation emphasized the importance of involving those who own the culture in the repatriation process.
In 2019, an agreement was signed in Santiago, Chile, during a visit by Norway's King Harald, but activities were halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thor Heyerdahl's voyage, documented in a bestselling book and an Academy Award-winning film, remains a significant part of maritime history.
Rapa Nui, known for its iconic moai statues, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. The island, located 3,700 kilometers from South America, is home to about 7,700 people, half of whom have Rapa Nui ancestry. Its isolation and unique cultural heritage make it a place of great historical and archaeological significance.
