When the Universe Was an Island

About Us

​

Edmundo Edwards

Edmundo’s passion for archaeology started when he was 12 years old and discovered a pre-Incan site in northern Chile, yet it was after visiting Rapa Nui in 1957, that he became enthralled by Rapanui culture and returned to the island in 1960 with archaeologist William Mulloy.  Edmundo has lived and worked in Polynesia ever since. In 1977 he co-founded the Centro de Estudios de Isla de Pascua where he carried out archaeological and ethnographic studies for the University of Chile until 1985. He then left for Tahiti, conducting archaeological surveys and leading restoration work in the Society, Marquesas, and Austral Islands until he returned to Rapa Nui in 1994. Edmundo has since then devoted himself to the scientific study and preservation of the archaeology and culture of the Pacific islands.  He is the co-founder of the Pacific Islands Research Institute (PIRI) and co-owner of Archaeological Travel Service (ATS). Edmundo is an active member of the Explorers Club and in 2011 he was honoured with the Lowell Thomas Award for his exceptional contribution to human knowledge through his valuable research and discoveries in Polynesia, and in 2016 he received the Citation of Merit. 
 
Alexandra Edwards
Alexandra is a researcher in Cultural Anthropology, documentarian, and ethnoastronomer. For over 25 years, she has been working on projects that shed light on the life and times of the many different cultures and civilizations that developed in the Pacific, the largest ocean in the world. Originally a Latin American Studies and Film double-major from Wesleyan University, Alexandra returned to Rapa Nui in 1995. Alexandra is an Explorers Club Fellow, having participated in 6 Explorers Club expeditions and contributing to several documentary projects by National Geographic, the BBC, the History and Smithsonian Channels, and CNBC Canada, working in places as diverse as Kosrae, Pohnpei, Rapa Nui, Ra’ivavae, and the Marquesas and Society Islands.  She is co-author of When the Universe was an Island: Exploring the Cultural and Spiritual Cosmos of Ancient Rapa Nui. Alexandra complements her research work conducting private tours, and lecturing aboard expedition cruise ships about her favorite parts of the world: the Americas, Oceania, and Southeast Asia.

​

​

​

To learn more about our present projects and download our articles, reports, documents, etc... click the button below.