Arthur Posnansky facts for kids
Arthur Posnansky (1873–1946), often called "Arturo", was a very interesting person who had many jobs during his life. He was an engineer, an explorer, and even a ship's navigator. He also directed a river shipping company and was a successful business owner. In the city of La Paz, he served on the city council. Posnansky was also a well-known and respected amateur archaeologist.
During his lifetime, Posnansky wrote many books and did a lot of research. He was also very active in helping to defend and develop Bolivia. Some of his famous books include Tihuanacu, the Cradle of American Man and Campaña del Acre: la lancha "Iris". While he was very influential, many of his ideas and theories are not accepted by modern experts today.
Early Life
Arthur Posnansky was born in Vienna, Austria, on April 13, 1873. When he was young, he helped his father, who was a chemist. He was very interested in similar scientific studies at that time. However, his father suddenly passed away, and Posnansky's focus changed.
After his father's death, Posnansky went to the Imperial and Royal Academy of Pola (which is now called Pula). He studied there to become a Naval Military Engineer for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. During his time at the academy, he went on many long training trips by ship. These trips took him to many places, including the Easter Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. While on Easter Island, he carefully observed the local culture and people. He later wrote about these observations in his book Die Osterinsel und ihre praehistorischen Monumente. Posnansky finished his studies at the academy when he was 18 years old.
Life in Brazil
In 1896, when he was 23, Posnansky moved to South America. At first, he joined several expeditions that explored the upper parts of the Amazon River. Through these trips, he became very skilled at navigating the Amazon and its smaller rivers. He used this skill to become the director of a river navigation company called La Empresa de Navegacao dos rios Purus e Acre.
Posnansky owned and captained a small, fast steamboat called the Iris. During a conflict known as the Acre Campaign in Brazil, he used his boat to rescue the survivors of a Bolivian army group. This military campaign was a disagreement between Bolivia and Brazil over a large area of land near the Acre River. After being hurt and captured by Brazilian forces, he managed to escape and became a refugee in Europe. Because he was so loyal to Bolivia in this conflict, he lost all his property in Brazil. His adventures during the Acre Campaign (1900-1901) are described in detail 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. He wanted to receive payment for his help during the Acre Campaign. However, he found that Bolivia's government did not have enough money to give him a large reward. So, he decided to use his talents to start his own businesses. He got involved in mining and international trade. Over time, he became a very successful business owner. During this period, Posnansky even brought the first car to Bolivia! He passed away in La Paz, Bolivia, in 1946.
Even though his businesses were doing well, the Bolivian Government still recognized Posnansky's service during the Acre Campaign. Because of his sacrifices for Bolivia, they first gave him the special title of Benemerito de la Patria, which means Worthy of the Nation. They also made him a full Bolivian citizen. Later, they gave him two gold medals, one in 1901 and another in 1903. In 1905, he continued his public service when he was elected to the La Paz City Council.
Research
After settling in Bolivia, Posnansky traveled many times through the highlands of Bolivia and Peru. He worked hard to find, describe, and study ancient Inca and pre-Inca archaeological sites. He was especially interested in the sites found along the shores and on the islands of Lake Titicaca. He published the results of these studies in books like The Islands of Titicaca and Koati. For his research, the Bolivian Senate gave him a gold medal in 1905. He later became the Director of the National Museum.
He also wrote books about the geography and cultures of South America. These included Os Indios Paumaris e Ipurinas no rio Purus (1898) and a seven-volume work called Mapa del rio Acre (1897). Posnansky also gave talks about archaeology in several cities in Germany, such as Berlin and Frankfort. In 1914, the German Government gave him an honorary title of Professor to recognize his achievements.
Posnansky's most important book was Tihuanacu, the Cradle of American Man. The first two volumes were published in 1945, and the last two in 1957. In this book, Posnansky suggested that the ancient city of Tiwanaku was built around 15,000 BC by early American peoples. He also believed that Tiwanaku was the starting point for all civilizations in the Americas, including the Inca and the Maya. However, later archaeological research has shown that these ideas are not correct.
Even though some of his theories are disputed, Posnansky's book is still very valuable. It contains many photographs, detailed descriptions of buildings and carvings, and carefully drawn maps. These provide an important historical record of the Tiwanaku site. Posnansky's ideas that Tiwanaku was a large city with many people living there all the time (instead of just a place used for ceremonies sometimes) are now generally accepted. Also, his idea that the city was abandoned because of ancient climate change is widely believed. His book and his personal efforts also greatly helped to protect the Tiwanaku site. At the time, it was being badly damaged by neglect, people taking stones from it, and treasure hunters.
See also
In Spanish: Arthur Posnansky para niños
