THE PYRAMIDS OF GUIMAR:THE WORK OF THOR HEYERDAHL AND FRED OLSEN-THE ETHNOGRAPHIC PARK

It was a must to go to the Pyramids at the town of Guimar on the Canary Islands, Tenerife, staying on the island as a Norwegian tourist. The life of Thor Heyerdahl is known to most of my generation –born after the Second World War. The Pyramids of Guimar was worth a visit. Six rectangular pyramids are built from lava stones located in the district of Chacona, part of the town of Guimar.Dr. Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002) was a Norwegian explorer, ethnographer,adventurer, with background in biology, zoology and geography

. He became aware of the ” Canarian Pyramids ” by reading an article in a newspaper. The article was written by Francisco Padron in the Tenerife newspaper ” Diarode Avisos ”. Thor Heyerdahl was of the opinion that the Canarian pyramids formed a temporal and geographic stopping point on voyages between ancient Egypt and the Maya civilization in Central America. The park contents a modern information centre, a cinema, an exhibition of the life and work of Thor Heyerdahl, models of his boats, a replica of RAII. The park is accessible to the public.

The making of the park was made possible due to the support from the Norwegian ship owner and businessman, Fred Olsen. Thor Heyerdal and Fred Olsen were close friends for years. But who is Fred Olsen, you may ask? What is his connection to the Canary Islands?

Fred Olsen is recognised as one of the greatest entrepreneurial brains of our time. He is the president of the Fred Olsen Group. A former art student and sailor with no academic education as far as I know. He is the fourth generation of the family to head the firm. The company is a major employer and investor in the islands with Fred Olsen Express, Fred Olsen shipping, Hotel Jardin Tecina, Tecina Golf, Pueblo Don Thomas ,and Restaurante Las Rostas- so far the official reports available for the moment. And above all: Transport of banans from the Canary Islands since 1904.  The Fred Olsen Group is also involved in underwater drilling, marine water transport, renewable energies, properties, risk capital management and computer technology.

Thor Heyerdahl could not get a better friend ! Fred Olsen came to Tenerife in 1949 for the first time as  ” an ordinary seaman ”.

The local farmers and  local academics were of the opinion that the rocks of the pyramids were rocks left over from the farmers cleaning out fields for agriculture. Both Thor Heyerdahl and Fred Olsen disagreed with the local farmers at the town of Guimar.

The Pyramids of Guimar was founded in 1998. I recommend you to pay the park a visit next time you go to Tenerife.