Mary Dell Lucas

Mary Dell Lucas is a former archaeologist who created and, for 40 years, ran Far Horizons–an educational travel company that specializes in archaeology and history led by PhD scholars. In 1985, Mary Dell attended a presentation by Dr. Georgia Lee on the rock art of Easter Island and was the first to the podium at the talk’s completion to convince her to lead a tour to the island. For the next 15 years, Mary Dell gained a unique and in-depth insight into Rapa Nui and its people as she traveled there yearly with Georgia and the tour groups. Mary Dell’s company was responsible for the logistics of two scholarly conferences on Easter Island, one in New Mexico with Thor Heyerdahl as the keynote speaker, and the second in northern California featuring Dr. Patrick Kirsch. Upon retirement, Mary Dell’s continuing interest in archaeology and indigenous cultures, along with her friendship with Georgia, was the impetus of her decision to join the Easter Island Foundation.