Robinson Crusoe Island Re-Visited
Alexander Selkirk, Pirate Treasure & Daniel Defoe's Famous Castaway
Nov 3, 2008 Alistair McCulloch
Now, according to an article in the journal ‘Post-Medieval Archaeology’, archaeologists believe they have found one of the places that Selkirk lived on Robinson Crusoe Island during his period of exile.
Alexander Selkirk, the Real Robinson Crusoe
Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for the Robinson Crusoe character, was cast away on the island of Aguas Buenas about 600 kilometres west of the coast of Chile. The island has been renamed Robinson Crusoe in honour of the fictitious character.
Selkirk was a navigator and spent five years on the island after being put ashore at his own request in 1704 because he feared the ship he was on was unseaworthy. He was a navigator and records of his rescue record that he had his navigation kit with him when he was rescued.
Discovering Alexander Selkirk, the Real Robinson Crusoe
This is important because a team of archaeologists, led by David Caldwell from the National Museums of Scotland, have found a high spot with good defensive capabilities and views of both the island and the sea from which rescuers might come at which part of a navigator’s compass has been discovered. They have also found postholes of the sort that would support a shelter and the remains of a fire.
It is likely that Selkirk would have survived by shooting and cooking over his fire the wild goats that lived on Robinson Crusoe Island. The Robinson Crusoe inspiration would also have been helped during his five-year stay on the island by the good water supplies, excellent fisheries and ample supplies of fruit and vegetables. All in all, Robinson Crusoe Island sounds like a perfect desert island on which to be castaway.
Treasure Island
This is not the first time since Alexander Selkirk was marooned there and Daniel Defoe wrote his epic story that Robinson Crusoe Island has hit the headlines. In 2005 it was reported that and 18th Century treasure trove worth £6 million was claimed to have been discovered there.
The salvage firm involved used a specially-designed robot to track down a supposed 800 tonne pirate treasure which stories say was hidden on Robinson Crusoe Island in 1715. The firm said that it would not reveal the spot where the treasure is buried until the Chilean government promises it half of the proceeds. The government was and remains unwilling to do this.
Unlike the situation when Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk was castaway on Robinson Crusoe Island 300 years ago, it is no longer uninhabited and there are currently 600 people who live there. They too would like a share of the pirate treasure.
Robinson Crusoe Island as a Tourist Destination
Tales of pirate treasure and being the real-life site of Robinson Crusoe’s desert island mean that Robinson Crusoe Island could have a great future as a tourist destination. Were Robinson Crusoe’s treasure to be found would result in enormous publicity for the island and greatly increased revenue for the island’s residents. As it is, they must rely on those who go to see the real-life spot where Alexander Selkirk was marooned and from where Daniel Defoe got the idea for his epic story about Robinson Crusoe and his (completely) fictional friend, ‘Man Friday’.
Desert Island
|
Desert Island Beach
|
What do you think about this article?
More in History
Latest Articles