Polynesian Pathways
By Peter Marsh
peterpanther08@hotmail.com
Hokulea - discovers Tahiti ('the distant land') from Hawai'i ('the homeland').
Painting by Herb Kane
Chapters
1
GENETICS REWRITES PACIFIC PREHISTORY
2
MAINSTREAM THEORIES
7
LAPITA POTTERY
8 PLANTS AND ANIMALS
9 ANCIENT ASIA
10 ANCIENT AMERICA
11 CATASTROPHES
Introduction
This article explores
the genetic, cultural and geographical origins of the Polynesian people.
Lapita pottery has long been held as the key to Polynesian colonization of the
Pacific, despite there being no hard evidence to prove it. In fact the deeper
one delves into the archaeology (tool comparisons), chronology (time of habitation),
oral history (legends of origin) and gene trees (ancestral trails) of the Pacific
one finds that there is no connection whatsoever between Polynesian society
and the Lapita culture. Therefore a complete reassessment of the origins of
the Polynesians is necessary.
My research has led me far back in history, leading to some surprising revelations.
As a result, I have come to realise that there are many fundamental misconceptions
regarding the prehistory of man that need to be addressed before the colonization
of the Pacific can be fully understood.
These can be summarised as follows:
1. Genetic trails indicate there has been a great deal more trans oceanic voyaging in ancient times than previously thought, yet migration routes continue to be drawn via land only. The Bering land bridge/ice free corridor theory with regard to the colonization of America is a myth. Instead, genetics appears to indicate the Kuroshio current of the North Pacific was the main pathway from Asia to America.
2. Natural catastrophes, especially tsunamis, have repeatedly seriously altered the development of human populations around the world, yet have been ignored by most researchers.
3. Genetic studies of present island populations only describe the ancestral tree of the present inhabitants, unless there was significant interbreeding during an extended changeover period. Archaeological digs on Pacific islands commonly show large chronological gaps between sites, suggesting there was no connection between present and past populations, possibly due to a natural catastrophe.
4. Rising sea levels since the last ice age have obscured most of the evidence that ancient maritime civilizations have left, yet very little serious research has been done looking for evidence of past civilizations underwater.
5. There have been many peaks in the development of organized human society in the last 100,000 years. The categorization of early man as a 'primitive' hunter/gatherer society has dumbed down our perception of these people who had the same intelligence as you and me.
6. Past periods of globalization - mainly through sea trade, have been many, and a comparative analysis of languages, genetics, archaeology and cultures around the world, clearly shows that many trans-oceanic connections have occurred between seemingly unrelated cultures in the past. Unfortunately catastrophism and diffusionist theories are out of fashion at present.
7. The Americas have played a much bigger part in world prehistory than previously accepted, yet the official story is that Christopher Columbus was the first person to cross the Atlantic, despite a plethora of evidence to the contrary.
Polynesian Pathways
- a 350 page website introduces the reader to just some of these global pathways.
The Polynesians - clearly a seafaring culture, are undoubtedly
a product of this untold history.
Canoe builder, by Herb Kane
The PolynesiansThe mysterious origins of the Polynesians, is a subject that has generated a great deal of controversy over the years. The Polynesians live in some of the most isolated communities in the world, yet the people of Polynesia possess a richness of culture, that indicates a great deal of interaction has occurred with other cultures in their formative years. They are a wise, proud, competitive and spiritually aware culture, possessing a complex society with Kings and Queens. Hardly the sort of culture one would expect to be generated amongst a small group of isolated individuals living on coral atolls and small volcanic islands.
Despite this, many scientists still believe Polynesian society has emerged from a small group of individuals out of the 'big man' Melanesian society, a society which is structured in a completely different manner to Polynesian society. Melanesians take the richest, most charismatic man as their leader, whereas Polynesians have a complex class society that is based on a hereditary system that goes back 16,000 years to a lady called Lailai. Many scientists still believe Polynesians 'mysteriously' lost their dark skin, frizzy hair, their Melanesian genes and their knowledge of pottery when they arrived in Polynesia - an assumption that has no credible scientific backing. Polynesians worshipped different gods to the Melanesians, they used different sailing craft, different tools and artifacts, including; pestles, harpoons, lures and two piece fishhooks which are all strikingly similar in design to Kwakuitl and Haida artefacts of Canada.
1.Village in the rainforested hills
of Fiji. Photo: L Marsh. 2. Atoll lagoon.
The classic images of tropical island living.
This lush tropical environment is something most Polynesians and Melanesians do have in common.
Many scientists still firmly believe that the Polynesians made Lapita pottery, despite the fact that this pottery is not found in Polynesia. It is only found on Western Pacific Islands amongst Melanesian artifacts. On many Melanesian islands archaeological deposits show there have been few changes in culture right up to the pottery making society that still exists on these islands today.
For
many years it seemed that the truth about Polynesian origins was going to slip
from our grasp forever, but recently, genetics has started to provide us with
the answers we have all been looking for. As a result, the understanding of
world prehistory and in particular, Pacific prehistory is undergoing some radical
new changes.
There is mounting genetic and cultural evidence to suggest that ocean currents have played a much bigger part in assisting with man's colonisation of the World than ever expected. Many modern scholars have, grossly underestimated the ability of early man to successfully navigate the oceans. They have assumed the ocean to be a barrier to cultural interaction, but now, genetics is highlighting similar gene pools on opposite sides of the oceans, indicating that ocean currents have acted like rivers distributing man around the planet. Proof that the oceans were seen as highways in ancient times, are 20,000 year old paintings in Borneo and the Kimberley region of Australia showing high prowed ocean going boats with over 30 people in them.
Genetics is showing that there has been far more cross-cultural interaction between the “Old World” and the “New World” than ever imagined. For example: 10-13,000 year old Caucasian and African genes have been found in America. 6-8,000 year old Taiwanese genes have been found in America. 3-4,000 year old Mayan genes have even been found in Greece and Greek genes have been found in Peru (James L. Guthrie, 1998). It has now been determined that 6-8,000 year old Southern and East Asian genes, rather than Siberian genes form the basis of populations in Canada, California, Central America, South America and Polynesia. In fact the Bering land bridge hypothesis appears to have no scientific backing whatsoever. Scientists are beginning to admit there was no ice free corridor during the height of the last Ice Age. The only people to use this route were the Pan Polar cultures, people that were already adapted to living in a cold climate, and chose to stay there. Instead the entry of Asians into America appears to have been by sea, utilizing the Kuroshio current and westerly winds of the North Pacific.
Linguists have now shown that the Austronesian language spoken in the Solomon islands is the most ancient form of this language, estimated to be over 15,000 years old. The Polynesian version of Austronesian is from Taiwan only 6,000 years ago, showing a direction of dispersal opposite to what has previously been believed.
Furthermore, Austronesian words are common in both Central America (Maya, Lenca) and amongst Quechua tribes along the West Coast of South America, helping to confirm cultural influence from East Asia 6-8,000 years ago.
Contrary to popular belief, genetic evidence indicates that Polynesia was not
populated via Melanesia, but was populated by people who have ancient connections
to the Tibetans and Thais. Specific genetic markers and bottlenecks indicate
they left East Asia 6000 years ago, but did not spend any time in Micronesia
nor Melanesia, but instead spent ~4,000 years in Alaska and Canada and arrived
in Hawaii 2,200 years ago. Many genetic, cultural and artifact similarities
with the Haida and Kwakuitl of Canada confirm this connection. Other groups
from Central and South America appear to have influenced cultures of the Pacific
after this initial period of colonisation.
The possibility that America has played a big part in the populating of the Pacific has been a taboo subject for many years, despite the fact that wind and ocean currents prevail from that direction. Fortunately a new generation of free thinking scientists are examining the genetic evidence and are reexamining all the American connections that have for so long been swept under the carpet. As a result, ancient legends that have been ignored and misunderstood, can now be given back their 'mana' and the 'American Isolationists' will soon be seen as branch members of the 'Flat Earth Society'.
The route taken by the Polynesians to Hawai'i is recorded in
the The Ancient History of Hookumu Ka Lani & Hookumu Ka Honua by Solomon
L.K. Peleioholani. This legend is confirmed by genetic evidence outlined in
later chapters.
Haida Gwai'i is strictly the homeland of the Haida, but four related tribes - the Tlingit, Kwakuitl, Nuutka and Salish all have much in common (genetically and culturally) with the Polynesians. The Pima and Maya are also closely genetically related to Polynesians.
It is interesting that the last major rise in sea level, 6-8,000 years ago coincides with both; an exodus from Asia via the Kuroshio Current to America, as well as an exodus out of America via the Gulf Stream back to Europe, returning from America as accomplished seafarers, ending their genetic isolation away from Europe as seen in the genetic record of the Berber, Basque, Armorican and Irish people to become the Celtic Sea Kings and Serpent Warriors (viz spiral/serpent decorations, Dingle Peninsula). Anasazi legends describe the sinking of the large land now the Bahama Banks (the gateway to Europe via the Gulf Stream). Interestingly Anasazi Petroglyphs, legends and language has much in common with the Irish and Basque pople.
The exodus of Blonde/Red haired Caucasians (Urukehu) out of Harappa in 1500BC is described in a Maori legend which describes Central America as "The Long Skinny Land" and Peru as "The Very Large Land." The exodus of the Charapa people from Puna Island into the Pacific is described in the Rongo Rongo tablets of Rapa nui (see Appendix). Other Peruvian and Marquesan legends describe the voyage of Kon Tiki Viracocha into the Pacific from Peru.
Verifying the arrival of Caucasians into the Pacific are the Moai of Rapa nui who sport classic Caucasian features - thin lips and aquiline noses. The red haired families of Rapa nui are direct descendants of these people.
The earliest expansion of Homo sapiens into Melanesia were the Pygmies 100,000 years ago bringing Plasmodium Falciparum.
Another expansion of Africans occured 10,000 years ago bringing Plasmodium Vivax and may have been responsible for the spread of South American Coconut, Afro/American cotton, African gourd, African Jackbean across the Pacific.
Around 1500BC, the Olmec civilization flourished which it has been argued has both African and Chinese influences in its culture. Clearly 1500 BC was a time of blossoming of many cultures - all conducting sea trade with each other sharing ideas, but all developing their own individual character.
The Melanesian expansion Eastwards to Fiji and beyond is directly related to Lapita pottery in the archaeological record.
The Lapita people were red haired individuals living amongst the Melanesians, their descendants can be seen in the red haired people of Missima Is and the blond haired Tolai. There are two theories as to their origins.
1. Their time of arrival in the Bismark Archipelago ~1500BC suggests a connection to an exodus of these people from NW India by the Dravidians.
2. They may be connected
to an extinct population in Micronesia where massive megalithic ruins cover
many Islands.
Fijian legend has it that Lutunasobasoba arrived from Tanganyika. (a little side note - why do Fijians call a sunshower a "Monkey's Birthday"? - something also said in Africa - and no monkeys in Fiji).
The voyage of Egyptian navigator Maui in 232BC is covered in a later chapter.
Tiki Petroglyphs from the Taino people in the Virgin Islands are almost identical to Bella Coola and East Asian petroglyphs and show the extent of the migrations of the "Tai/Hai" people after the destruction of their Megalithic civilization 6-8,000 years ago by rising sea levels as seen in numerous underwater ruins between Taiwan and Japan.
The hypothesis put forward in this website is not a new one, many scholars in the 19th Century, with their intuition and innocence, expressed similar beliefs to what is in this article. Even Captain Cook believed there to be a connection between the Maori and the Kwakuitl (of Vancouver Is). Little did they know that genetics over one hundred years later would prove them to have been much closer to the truth than most modern scientists. More recent scholars/writers such as Thor Heyerdahl, Charles Hapgood, Graham Hancock, Andrew Collins and Barry Fell did not go far enough in their assertions, as new found genetic evidence, also proves them right in many aspects of their work.
When reading the following pages, one must remember that; as there have been repeated genetic inputs into populations around the world far more regularly than previously thought, the face of man has been continually changing through time. It is all too easy and sometimes convenient for one to believe that everything stays the same, but we know that not to be the case.
Genetics describes a very different story to what we have been taught in school about the prehistory of man. We need to listen to this new story and stop trying to make it fit into all the old hypotheses by ignoring these new crucial pieces of genetic evidence that connects cultures on opposite sides of ocean. Many of these cultural similarities were put down to 'parallel evolution', but with common ancestry visible in the genes, this whole field needs to be reexamined.
It seems that many scientists and authors of articles that disagree with mainstream ideas on prehistory have been repeatedly ridiculed and condemned for their work. Archaeological sites and genetic studies that have had the potential to upend mainstream views have been refused funding repeatedly. Conversely, graduates are given copious amounts of funding for doing research on subjects that stroke the ego of the professor in control of the program, creating an end result that is far from the truth. The longer these professors sit in their ivory towers ignoring the truth the more foolish they will become. Bizarre and obscure theories such as the 'fast train', 'slow train' and 'entangled bank' have confused the issue even more, driving people away from subject in a cloud technical jargon and misinformation. Unfortunately, as time moves on, legends, culture and language is lost and it becomes progressively harder to find the truth and easier for so called authorities on the subject to distort the facts, hide the truth and ignore areas of study which might debunk their own fragile hypothesis.
Although this website's main objective is to explore the genetic and geographical origins of the Polynesian people, in so doing, it has led me far back in history, leading me to realise that it is not merely Pacific prehistory that has been misinterpreted. Unexplained parallels between civilized societies around the world have perplexed researchers ever since the study of world cultures began. Supernatural or cosmic intervention has often been the only way such parallels could be explained, but it seems the answer is much simpler - sea trade.
Cultural and technological traits common to cultures on opposite sides of the planet are clearly shadows of past maritime civilizations that have been and gone in our distant past. Rising sea levels at the end of the last Ice Age have all but obliterated any solid evidence of these civilizations prior to 6,000 years ago, making it very difficult to piece together the ancient history of man. Slowly, with modern science at our fingertips, and an unbiassed mind, this picture of a much more complex past is beginning to take shape. Genetics is showing quite clearly that the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans were crossed many times in the past, especially from 12,000 years ago through to the Bronze Age. This trans oceanic contact has contributed significantly to the gene pool found in America. New archaeological finds are confirming trans oceanic contact did occur. With this new information, old legends as well as cultural and technological similarities are finally making sense as these periods of globalization through sea trade are identified.
Natural catastrophic events have also heavily influenced the history of man. Geologists have found numerous examples of major catastrophic events, (meteor strikes) that have ended the reign of specific plants and animals in the distant past. Similarly, the history of man has also been punctuated by many lesser catastrophes involving meteor strikes which have caused volcanic eruptions (Ice core samples often show Iridium in volcanic ash layers), earthquakes, tsunamis, earth dimming events, drought and ice ages. These events have been identified in Antarctic and Greenland ice cores as well as in tree ring analysis and appear to coincide with major upheavals in human prehistory seen as genetic bottlenecks and the 'End of Ages' in native folklore. These catastrophic natural events have ended periods of globalisation, leaving isolated pockets of people to reinvent society as they see fit. Hence the old saying; "The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth." It seems that history does repeat itself, therefore, by looking into our past we have an insight into predicting the future.
This website was created a few months after the death of Thor Heyerdahl (April 2002) when I realized that despite the truths he spoke, most people had failed to understand the implications of the discoveries he had made during numerous quests of research and discovery. Hopefully in future years with the assistance of this website, people will eventually come to understand Thor Heyerdahl and Pacific prehistory a little better.
Thor has clearly been an inspiration to me and my research, his books 'Aku Aku', 'Early Man and the Ocean' and 'American Indians in the Pacific' should be read by everyone who has an interest in Pacific Prehistory.
Ever since I was a child living in the Pacific, the complexities of Pacific history and its people, have always intrigued me. Not merely through Thor's work but from my own experiences and observations. Many commonly held beliefs regarding Polynesian origins from Melanesia (the Lapita people) did not sit right and I have always wanted to get to the truth of the matter. Some of the things which helped spark my curiosity which has resulted in a lifelong quest for the truth are shown below.
1. My father and I (in the blue) looking at the rain erosion on the Haamonga a Maui, hinting at it's great age.
2. Exploring some of the large circular fortification trenches near Taranaki.
3. My father, sister and myself inspecting a massive stockade on Ouvea where a great war between people once raged. Ouvea
is a low coral island unable to support a forest with trees of this size. Tthese trees are believed to have been transported from
a distant island.
4. My sister and myself sitting outside traditional round houses in Ouvea.
If I had just come from Kuelap in Peru, I would have been astounded at the similarity in house construction.
Isolated pockets of this traditional house design - once common in the Bronze Age, fits in with the concept that isolated places
(both in natural history and in human history) are often veritable time capsules of a bygone age.
5. Replica houses of the blond haired Chachapoya Cloud people, Peru.
6. I was always intrigued that King Cakabou was the first Polynesian style king to rule Fiji. Living in Fiji and visiting Tonga,
Samoa and Niue helped me understand the profound differences between Fijian and Polynesian society at an early age.
7. Fijian crested iguana - its relatives live in South America. I always imagined children on Mayan ships having these animals as pets.
8. Small non commercial South American pineapple found growing wild amongst ruins on Fatu Hiva by Thor Heyerdahl.
9. The Mayan hybrid Vanilla Orchid, endemic to Tahiti.
Native American plants such as; cotton, bottlegourd, jackbean, coconut, paw paw, cassava and kumera - which are accepted as endemic plants of the Pacific, confirmed with me at an early age that there had been many voyages into the Pacific from America throughout the ages. Wth such plant and animal evidence in mind, I have always felt it foolish to underestimate the American influence on Pacific cultures - that is - if ones intention is to fully understand Pacific Prehistory without religious or political bias.
I trust with the broad coverage of this article, you will see the importance of bringing together such a diverse range of very specialized disciplines which has enabled us to see the big picture of human prehistory. The Polynesians are a product of this ancient and complicated past. May you find the following pages both stimulating and educational.
If you wish to contact the author and discuss any of the issues covered in this article
feel free to contact me at; peterpanther08@hotmail.com
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Created: October 2002,
Catastrophes and Ancient America pages revised May 2004,
Genetics pages revised May 2005
Lapita page revised April 2008