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13th
April 1998
After many days of sailing, handling and portaging their
boats, the Kota Mama Expedition reached the edge of Lake
Poopo.
At this point the Rio Desaguadero vanished. The lakes
are almost completely dried out by El Nino. Welcoming
fireworks flared and burst and pistol shots rang out as
the Explorers reached the end of their challenging journey
during which they endured hail, torrential rain, strong
winds and blistering sun. Often they had to wade waist
deep in thick mud for long periods pushing the reed boats
through shallows.
Captain Jim Masters who commanded the fleet complimented
the crew in the style of Sir Francis Drake with the words
"Well Done Lads". Lt Luke Cox RE who skippered "Patchacotec",
the smallest boat commented "It was certainly no picnic".
Throughout the journey the reed craft were ably supported
by an Avon inflatable with an ISHP Mariner outboard fitted
with a special cage for use in reeds and mud.
Toby Marriner examined one of Jim Allen's principal sites
on which he has based his hypothesis of Atlantis. During
a brief survey Toby concluded that this channel was probably
a natural feature, although it had a symmetrical profile.
Archaeologists felt that it may have been used by early
cultures and indeed it is known that the Tiwanaku were
expert canal builders. Evidence of small settlements dating
back to 1100 AD were discovered along its banks. Jim Allen
is now investigating other areas seen on satellite photographs.
Cave walls adorned with pictographs of men leading llamas
and also of pumas, said to represent the faces of good
and evil and dating about 9000 BC (The very date of the
supposed cataclysm of Atlantis) were surveyed and photographed
on the final day of the project.
These were discovered by Dr Luis Guerra one of Bolivia's
most distinguished archaeologists who is assisting the
expedition. Now the team heads back to La Paz, when its
flagship "Kota Mama" is to be displayed in the national
museum. Meanwhile Toby Marriner and Chrysoulla Kyprianou
are heading into tropical swamps of Bolivia's malaria
ridden lowlands to reconnoitre the route to the next phase
of the three-year expedition, which will again be carried
out in co-operation with the Bolivian Navy. Already work
has begun on the design of the new flagship "Kota Mama
2" that will carry the expedition form Bolivia to Buenos
Aires and the Atlantic. Like its successor it is to be
built by the Cataris, Aymara Indians of Lake
Titicaca.
Photographs and reports for Kota Mama Phase I and II
are courtesy of Ashton and Waverly. |
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