Galapagos question

European discovery of the Galápagos Islands occurred when Spaniard Fray Tomás de Berlanga, the fourth Bishop of Panama, sailed to Peru to settle a dispute between Francisco Pizarro and his lieutenants. De Berlanga's vessel drifted off course when the winds diminished, and his party reached the islands on 10 March 1535. According to a 1952 study by Thor Heyerdahl and Arne Skjølsvold, remains of potsherds and other artifacts from several sites on the islands suggest visitation by South American peoples prior to the arrival of the Spanish.[3] However, no remains of graves, ceremonial vessels and constructions have ever been found, suggesting no permanent settlement occurred at the time.[4]

In OTL, it seems there was nothing suggesting permanent settlement of the island by the South American natives. What's the most likely group of people to settle the islands? The Polynesians?


 
The Finches, of course :cool:

The Polynesians actually have about the same chance as South American Natives, IMO.
 
Pretty much, yeah. The Galapagos aren't particularly human friendly IIRC.

Ah I figured. That's one more idea that I can slash off in my TL. The islands have a really interesting tale of the multiple attempts the Ecuadorian government tried bringing people over. Thank you.
 

archaeogeek

Banned
Ah I figured. That's one more idea that I can slash off in my TL. The islands have a really interesting tale of the multiple attempts the Ecuadorian government tried bringing people over. Thank you.

Did they involve tying drunk "settlers" to turtles so they wouldn't run away?
 
IF there was human habitation, I imagine they'd be from the same lineage as the Easter Islanders.
 
Did they involve tying drunk "settlers" to turtles so they wouldn't run away?

They mostly tried getting Europeans to live in the most isolated parts of the islands. Didn't work. The islands are inhabitated now but by mainlanders, mostly mestizos. I've been there. Pretty nice.
 
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