Thor Heyerdahl's journey aimed to demonstrate what key concept about ancient peoples?

Thor Heyerdahl's journey, particularly his famous expedition on the raft Kon-Tiki, was geared towards demonstrating the feasibility of trans-oceanic travel. Heyerdahl sought to prove that ancient peoples, specifically those from South America, could have sailed across the Pacific Ocean to settle on Polynesian islands. He constructed the raft using traditional materials and techniques available during that historical period to replicate the travel methods of the ancients.

His successful voyage reinforced the idea that long-distance ocean travel was possible using simple technology available to indigenous cultures. This challenged prevailing theories that suggested such extensive oceanic crossings were impossible for pre-modern societies. Heyerdahl's work emphasized the potential for cultural exchange and contact between distant civilizations, illustrating how human ingenuity and resourcefulness could enable trans-oceanic exploration.