Pitcairn Island
SADLY THIS EXPEDITION HAS BEEN CANCELLED
A PIRI Expedition to uncover the legacy of the Bounty Mutineers
Mutiny, Mayhem, Murder
In 1787, HMT Bounty set off on a mission to transport breadfruit plants from Tahiti to the West Indies under the command of Lieutenant William Bligh RN. In 1789 a mutiny led by his friend Fletcher Christian, set Bligh and a small group of loyalists adrift in a small boat. Bligh miraculously navigated his craft more than 3,500 nautical miles back to civilization and was able to bring some of the mutineers to justice. Those led by Christian settled on Pitcairn where some of their descendants still live today. This expedition plans to locate the original burial grounds of their ancestors.
A Story for the Ages
Memorialized in books, plays, and films, the Mutiny on the Bounty is a tale of culture clash and survival. The British sailors who came to covet their new lives in Tahiti, rejecting military discipline and ‘western values’ of the time. The goals of the expedition are to cast light on the untold story of the Polynesian captives who accompanied the mutineers to Pitcairn, employing physical anthropology and oral history methodologies.
Working with the Community
Because this project deals with the sensitive areas of human remains, the PIRI team will be working alongside the community to ensure that all ethical standards and protocols are followed.
Inquiries
With participation questions, press, or other contact concerning the Pitcairn 2022 expedition please contact Capt. Lynn Danaher 4islandexplorer@gmail.com