3. Objectives of the Norwegian Archaeological Expedition to the Galápagos

Extract

The first scientific expedition to the Galápagos took place, as stated, when Malaspina made his brief call in 1790. In the 19th century a series of other and more important scientific expeditions followed, among them notably H.M.S. Beagle which arrived in 1835 with Charles Darwin as naturalist on board. Right up to the present time naturalists have been drawn to the Galápagos due to its unique fauna and flora, and biologically and geologically the group has been carefully surveyed. The many visiting expeditions have, however, never assumed the special task of searching for archaeological remains, and no signs of early occupation have been reported, other than man-made caves in the local tuff and broken Spanish jars and porcelain, all properly ascribed to the late 17th century buccaneers and the 18th century whalers.