Feathered Serpent I

Feathered Serpent I was a reed raft of ancient Mochica design. This ship, launched in 1969 from the northern coast of Peru, used only wind and the currents to reach Meso America, and specifically Panama. The purpose of this first venture was to duplicate an ancient sea voyage along the coast to demonstrate how wind and the ocean currents were used by the ancient Peruvian sailors to reach northern America. The raft ­ built in the authentic ancient style, and equipped with no more than such a vessel would carry 2000 years ago (except for radios and perhaps the cooking utensils of metal) ­ was moved naturally by the currents along the coast for more than 1000 miles to major natural ports of antiquity.

    Order the book On the Trail of the Feathered Serpent through our on-line catalog to read about the adventures of the ship Feathered Serpent I.