..........Patricia Vargas, Edmundo Edwards, and Claudio Cristino
Our international team of world-class Archaeologists, Ethnographers and Field Volunteers includes:
..• Edmundo Edwards Eastman, Archaeologist, Ethnologist, Explorers Club Fellow
..• Patricia Vargas Casanova - Archaeologist
..• Claudio Cristino Ferrando, Archaeologist
..• Alexandra Edwards - Field Assistant
..• Margarita Rirorko - Field Assistant
..• Lynn Danaher - Field Assistant and Fund Raising, Explorers Club member
The research of these three seasoned Archaeologists has been referenced in most current books on Polynesian Prehistory, notably "On the Road of the Winds" by Patrick V. Kirch and "Collapse" by Jared Diamond
The shear natural beauty of Raivavae cannot be overstated, the Polynesian people their isolated lifestyle, plus the archaeologists themselves are great characters, entertaining, informative and with a scope of knowledge of the area that is mind boggling. All of these factors will lend themselves to future media coverage.
Please Google these individuals to learn about their many accomplishments.
Several of these researchers have extensive experience in the archaeological exploration and excavation of the Pacific Islands of Polynesia, including significant research on Easter Island, as well as the Austral, Marquesas and Society Islands.
Edwards is Research Associate of the Institute for Easter Island Studies of the University of Chile and of the Department of Archaeology of French Polynesia. Edwards has worked in Northern Chile and on Easter Island and French Polynesia since 1960 onwards. From 1985 through 1994, Edwards worked as archaeologist for the Department of Archaeology of French Polynesia, and carried out extensive survey and salvage work in the Marquesas, recording over 7000 petroglyphs and 78 stone statues. Part of these discoveries will be shown in a NGT documentary done with Wade Davis to be aired this year. In the Society Islands Edwards carried out survey and salvage work in numerous Tahitian valleys as well as in Raiatea and Huahine islands.
Between 1986 and 1991 Edwards with a team of workers from Raivavae, carried out the complete archaeological survey of the Island and 610 diverse archaeological sites where cleared, mapped and described. Another two ceremonial complexes with its altars where restored by this team. The final results of this mayor work where published in 2003 (Edwards, Edmundo. 2003 “Raivavae. The Archaeological Survey of Raivavae, Austral Islands, French Polynesia” (224 p) The Easter Island Foundation ISBN 1-880636-21-2.)
In 2005 Edwards & associates resumed research in Raivavae on December 2005. Under the auspices of the Minister, Edwards returned to Raivavae in the company of archaeologists Cristino & Vargas. Several promising sites were cored and charcoal samples have been C14 dated. The core samples indicate very early habitation.
