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PROJECT # 3
Reto Arawak 2024-2026
After 1,000 km paddled only in our expeditions in Curiaras, we are now aiming to follow the Saladoids route through the Antillean arch from Trinidad to the Dominican Republic, approximately 2,000 kilometres in 100 days.
The pre-Hispanic period in the Caribbean is one of the most culturally rich but unjustly forgotten stages of our history. We want to fix this to perpetuate the memory of these daring Amerindians, telling their story through our expedition because, remembering our past strengthens our present day identity.
Our projects, among other recognitions, was presented at the 27th Congress of the International Association of Caribbean Archaeology by Magdalena & Andrzej Antczak of Leiden University.
Our summary documentary “Amerindian Passion”, link below, earned a Special Mention Award at the ArcheoFilm, the Archaeology Film in Festival Florence, Italy.
Arriving in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago after four days crossing the Orinoco Delta in Venezuela
Reto Arawak 2024-2026
The Navigation plan
100 days - 2.000 kilometres - 400 hours of paddling - 12 Nations - 36 Islands - 65 ports
2500 years BC, in the Orinoco River in Venezuela, a culture identified as the Saladoids, of Arawak linguistic roots, began a population movement that culminated in the Greater Antilles. It is estimated that at contact period, one million Arawak’s lived in the Caribbean.
Since 2014 we have been researching the pre-Hispanic navigation routes of our Amerindians, aiming to reliably recreate them in indigenous “Curiaras” (Wood Canoes) propelled solely by paddles.
In order to maintain scientific rigor our Experimental Archaeology Expeditions have been designed with the tutelage of a team of archaeologists, museums & Institution who endorse the project.
Following two years training a crew, manufacturing “Curiaras” and learning how to navigate them:
- In 2016, after 140 km and 29 hours paddling the open sea between mainland to Los Roques archipelago, we validated that navigations could be made to cover distances such as those between the farthest Caribbean Islands.
- In 2017, after 20 days and 670 km, we validated that long routes were also possible, departing from where our Saladoids did 2500 years ago & following their route to the Atlantic & Caribbean to reach the Island of Margarita.
Our next (large) step is to follow the rest of the Saladoid prehistoric Migration route, now departing from Port of Spain in Trinidad & Tobago, where we arrived in 2017 and continue thru the Antillean Arc all the way to Quisqueya, now the Dominican Republic, home of the most sophisticated culture of the Arawak descendants, the people that greeted Columbus in his first voyage, the Tainos.