Oceanic migration paths, sequence, timing and range of prehistoric migration in the Pacific and Indian Oceans /

This book tracks the progress of the prehistoric influx Of population into the Pacific region, the last set of migrations involved in peopling the planet that saw the colonization of islands stretching across a quarter of the globe: from Madagascar in the west to Easter Island in the east, from Hawa...

Full description

Main Author: Pearce, Charles E. M.
Other Authors: Pearce, Frances M., SpringerLink (Online service)
Format: eBook
Language: English
Published: Dordrecht ; New York : Springer, ©2010.
Dordrecht ; New York : [2010]
Physical Description: 1 online resource (xxiv, 401 pages) : illustrations (some color), maps (some color)
Subjects:
Summary: This book tracks the progress of the prehistoric influx Of population into the Pacific region, the last set of migrations involved in peopling the planet that saw the colonization of islands stretching across a quarter of the globe: from Madagascar in the west to Easter Island in the east, from Hawaii in the north to New Zealand in the south. The authors use science and mathematics to cast new light on this final human expansion. The book focuses on two undeveloped areas of research, showing how oceanography and global climate change determined the paths, sequence, timing and range of migrations. Though the book has an oceanographic base and Pacific prehistory as its focus, it is interdisciplinary. It was a belief in the power of science to advance other disciplines that prompted its writing. In the last decade genetic research has established Halmahera, the largest of the Spice Islands, rather than Taiwan as the ancient Polynesian homeland. Taking this as a starting point, the reader is led on a journey of discovery that takes in fields as diverse as oceanography, genetics, geology and vulcanology, ship hydrodynamics, global climate history and palaeodemography.
Key themes Prehistoric migration West Pacific Warm Pool currents.
Primary oceanic routes.
Transoceanic spice trading.
Climate-driven chronology --Book Jacket.
Item Description: Includes bibliographical references and index.
The genetic context -- The oceanographic context -- Transoceanic trade and migration. 1 -- Transoceanic trade and migration. 2 -- Transoceanic voyaging in the Pacific -- The horticultural context -- Transoceanic trading in two oceans -- Exploration strategies, settlement sequence and evolution of canoe design -- Studying the history of Spice Island migration through cultural diffusion -- Challenging a late first settlement date for New Zealand -- The context of global climate change : climate-driven demography -- The context of field archaeology : the Maori pa -- New Zealand paleodemography : archaeologically based demographic evidence -- Dating the first settlement of New Zealand : a power law analysis -- The context of oral traditions : the oral transmission of history and Maui the Navigator's visit to New Zealand -- The mythological context : tree worship and the evolution of creation myths -- Dating the last migration to New Zealand -- Correlation of significant voyaging activity with rare extreme climate events -- Dating the first migration to New Zealand -- A consilience of evidence.
This book tracks the progress of the prehistoric influx Of population into the Pacific region, the last set of migrations involved in peopling the planet that saw the colonization of islands stretching across a quarter of the globe: from Madagascar in the west to Easter Island in the east, from Hawaii in the north to New Zealand in the south. The authors use science and mathematics to cast new light on this final human expansion. The book focuses on two undeveloped areas of research, showing how oceanography and global climate change determined the paths, sequence, timing and range of migrations. Though the book has an oceanographic base and Pacific prehistory as its focus, it is interdisciplinary. It was a belief in the power of science to advance other disciplines that prompted its writing. In the last decade genetic research has established Halmahera, the largest of the Spice Islands, rather than Taiwan as the ancient Polynesian homeland. Taking this as a starting point, the reader is led on a journey of discovery that takes in fields as diverse as oceanography, genetics, geology and vulcanology, ship hydrodynamics, global climate history and palaeodemography.
Key themes Prehistoric migration West Pacific Warm Pool currents.
Primary oceanic routes.
Transoceanic spice trading.
Climate-driven chronology --Book Jacket.
University staff and students only. Requires University Computer Account login off-campus.
Physical Description: 1 online resource (xxiv, 401 pages) : illustrations (some color), maps (some color)
Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN: 9789048138265
9048138264
Access: University staff and students only. Requires University Computer Account login off-campus.