Arthur Posnansky
Encyclopedia
Arthur Posnansky often called "Arturo", was at various times in his life an engineer, explorer, ship’s navigator, director of a river navigation company, entrepreneur, La Paz city council member, and well known and well respected avocational archaeologist. During his lifetime, Posnansky was known as a prolific writer and researcher and for his active participation in the defense and development of Bolivia
. He is well known for his books, including Tihuanacu, the Cradle of American Man, Campana de Acre, La Lancha "Iris", Die Osterinsel und ihre praehistorischen Monumente, and Rasas y Monummtos Prehistoricos del Altiplano Andino. Outside of Bolivia, where he is still widely read. Posnansky's writings about the Tiwanaku
Site have also been made popular by authors such as Graham Hancock
, Charles Hapgood
, and Rand Flem-Ath, who rely on Posnansky's dating of the Tiwanaku Site to support their theories.
, on April 13, 1873. He helped his father in his business as a manufacturing chemist. At this time, was deeply involved in cognate studies. His interest in cognate studies ended when his father suddenly died. After his father's death, Posnansky studied in Imperial and Royal Academy of Pola (now Pula) for the position of Naval Military Engineer in the Austro-Hungarian Navy. During his time in the Imperial and Royal Academy of Pola, he made several extensive training voyages, which took him many places, including the Easter Islands in the South Pacific Ocean
, as a part of his shipboard training. While at Easter Island, he made ethnological observations, which he later published as Die Osterinsel und ihre praehistorischen Monumente. Posnansky graduated from Imperial and Royal Academy of Pola at age 18.
. At first, he participated various expeditions, which explored upper reaches of the Amazon River
. During these expeditions, he became an experienced navigator of it and its distributaries. He used his expertise to become the director of a river navigation company, which was called La Empresa de Navegacao dos rios Purus e Acre. As captain and owner of the shallow-draught steamer and blockade runner
, Iris, Posnansky rescued the survivors of the Acre garrison during the Acre Campaign in Brazil
. This military campaign involved a dispute between Bolivia
and Brazil over 191000 square kilometers of territory on the Acre River. After being wounded and captured by Brazilian forces, he escaped and became a refugee in Europe. Because of his loyalty to and support of Bolivia in this conflict, he lost all of his properties in Brazil. His exploits during the Acre Campaign (1900-1901) are detailed in his book Campaña del Acre: la lancha "Iris"; aventuras y peregrinaciones
While his business ventures thrived, the Bolivian Government recognized Posnansky's service during the Acre Campaign. For his sacrifices in support of the Bolivian government, it first granted him the honorific title of Benemerito de la Patria (Worthy of the Nation) and full Bolivian citizenship. Later, it awarded him two gold medals, one in 1901, the other in 1903. In 1905, his government service continued when he was elected to La Paz City Council.
. The results of these investigations were published in books such as The Islands of Titicaca and Koati and Rasas y monummtos prehistoricos del Altiplano Andino. For such research, the Bolivian Senate awarded him a gold medal in 1905 and he later became Director of the National Museum. He also authored books, which included Os Indios Paumaris e Ipurinas no rio Purus (1898) and Mapa del rio Acre (7 volumes, 1897) about South American geography and ethnology. He also lectured about archaeological subjects in Berlin, Frankfort, Nuremberg, and Treptow, Germany. In recognition of his accomplishments, the German Government conferred on him an honorary title of Professor in 1914.
In 1945 (volumes I and II) and 1957 (volumes III and IV), Posnansky's final and most important book, Tihuanacu, the Cradle of American Man, was published. In it, Posnansky argued that Tiwanaku was constructed approximately 12,000 years ago by American peoples, although not by the ancestors of those then living in the area, the Aymara. Posnansky also saw Tiwanaku as the origin point of civilization throughout the Americas, including the Inca, the Maya and others. Although these ideas have since been discredited by later archaeological research, the photographs, detailed descriptions of structures and inscriptions, meticulously prepared maps of this site, and numerous photographs found in Tihuanacu, the Cradle of American Man constitute an extremely invaluable historic record of the site. In general principle, his ideas about the Tiwanaku Site having been full-fledged city with a large permanent population instead of having been only a seasonally occupied ceremonial center and its abandonment having been the result of prehistoric climatic change are widely accepted. Also, this book and his personal efforts contributed significantly to the eventual preservation of the Tiwanaku Site at a time when it was being very badly damaged by neglect, stone quarrying, and looting.
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. He is well known for his books, including Tihuanacu, the Cradle of American Man, Campana de Acre, La Lancha "Iris", Die Osterinsel und ihre praehistorischen Monumente, and Rasas y Monummtos Prehistoricos del Altiplano Andino. Outside of Bolivia, where he is still widely read. Posnansky's writings about the Tiwanaku
Tiwanaku
Tiwanaku, is an important Pre-Columbian archaeological site in western Bolivia, South America. Tiwanaku is recognized by Andean scholars as one of the most important precursors to the Inca Empire, flourishing as the ritual and administrative capital of a major state power for approximately five...
Site have also been made popular by authors such as Graham Hancock
Graham Hancock
Graham Hancock is a British writer and journalist. Hancock specialises in unconventional theories involving ancient civilizations, stone monuments or megaliths, altered states of consciousness, ancient myths and astronomical/astrological data from the past...
, Charles Hapgood
Charles Hapgood
Charles Hutchins Hapgood was an American college professor and author who became one of the best known advocates of a pseudo-historical claim of a rapid and recent pole shift with catastrophic results.-Biography:...
, and Rand Flem-Ath, who rely on Posnansky's dating of the Tiwanaku Site to support their theories.
Early Life
He was born in Vienna, AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, on April 13, 1873. He helped his father in his business as a manufacturing chemist. At this time, was deeply involved in cognate studies. His interest in cognate studies ended when his father suddenly died. After his father's death, Posnansky studied in Imperial and Royal Academy of Pola (now Pula) for the position of Naval Military Engineer in the Austro-Hungarian Navy. During his time in the Imperial and Royal Academy of Pola, he made several extensive training voyages, which took him many places, including the Easter Islands in the South Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, as a part of his shipboard training. While at Easter Island, he made ethnological observations, which he later published as Die Osterinsel und ihre praehistorischen Monumente. Posnansky graduated from Imperial and Royal Academy of Pola at age 18.
Life in Brazil
At age 23 in 1896, Posnansky emigrated to South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. At first, he participated various expeditions, which explored upper reaches of the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
. During these expeditions, he became an experienced navigator of it and its distributaries. He used his expertise to become the director of a river navigation company, which was called La Empresa de Navegacao dos rios Purus e Acre. As captain and owner of the shallow-draught steamer and blockade runner
Blockade runner
A blockade runner is usually a lighter weight ship used for evading a naval blockade of a port or strait, as opposed to confronting the blockaders to break the blockade. Very often blockade running is done in order to transport cargo, for example to bring food or arms to a blockaded city...
, Iris, Posnansky rescued the survivors of the Acre garrison during the Acre Campaign in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. This military campaign involved a dispute between Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
and Brazil over 191000 square kilometers of territory on the Acre River. After being wounded and captured by Brazilian forces, he escaped and became a refugee in Europe. Because of his loyalty to and support of Bolivia in this conflict, he lost all of his properties in Brazil. His exploits during the Acre Campaign (1900-1901) are detailed in his book Campaña del Acre: la lancha "Iris"; aventuras y peregrinaciones
Life In Bolivia
After being a refugee in Europe, Posnansky moved to Bolivia to claim compensation for his services to this country. After finding that any substantial reward was unattainable because of the bankrupt state of the Bolivian treasury, he devoted his talents towards building private businesses involved in mining and international trade. In time, he became a prosperous entrepreneur. During this time, Posnansky introduced the first car to Bolivia. Posnansky died in La Paz, Bolivia in 1946.While his business ventures thrived, the Bolivian Government recognized Posnansky's service during the Acre Campaign. For his sacrifices in support of the Bolivian government, it first granted him the honorific title of Benemerito de la Patria (Worthy of the Nation) and full Bolivian citizenship. Later, it awarded him two gold medals, one in 1901, the other in 1903. In 1905, his government service continued when he was elected to La Paz City Council.
Scientific Research
After becoming settled down in Bolivia, Posnansky repeatedly traveled the Bolivian and Peruvian highlands in efforts to locate, describe, and study Inca and pre-Inca archaeological sites. He was especially interested in those found along the shoreline and on the islands of Lake TiticacaLake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It sits 3,811 m above sea level, making it the highest commercially navigable lake in the world...
. The results of these investigations were published in books such as The Islands of Titicaca and Koati and Rasas y monummtos prehistoricos del Altiplano Andino. For such research, the Bolivian Senate awarded him a gold medal in 1905 and he later became Director of the National Museum. He also authored books, which included Os Indios Paumaris e Ipurinas no rio Purus (1898) and Mapa del rio Acre (7 volumes, 1897) about South American geography and ethnology. He also lectured about archaeological subjects in Berlin, Frankfort, Nuremberg, and Treptow, Germany. In recognition of his accomplishments, the German Government conferred on him an honorary title of Professor in 1914.
In 1945 (volumes I and II) and 1957 (volumes III and IV), Posnansky's final and most important book, Tihuanacu, the Cradle of American Man, was published. In it, Posnansky argued that Tiwanaku was constructed approximately 12,000 years ago by American peoples, although not by the ancestors of those then living in the area, the Aymara. Posnansky also saw Tiwanaku as the origin point of civilization throughout the Americas, including the Inca, the Maya and others. Although these ideas have since been discredited by later archaeological research, the photographs, detailed descriptions of structures and inscriptions, meticulously prepared maps of this site, and numerous photographs found in Tihuanacu, the Cradle of American Man constitute an extremely invaluable historic record of the site. In general principle, his ideas about the Tiwanaku Site having been full-fledged city with a large permanent population instead of having been only a seasonally occupied ceremonial center and its abandonment having been the result of prehistoric climatic change are widely accepted. Also, this book and his personal efforts contributed significantly to the eventual preservation of the Tiwanaku Site at a time when it was being very badly damaged by neglect, stone quarrying, and looting.