Oceanic Migration - Pearce, F. M.

. .

Résumé :
Oceanic Migration studies the prehistoric peopling of the Pacific. It uses science and mathematics to expand the research base of Pacific prehistory and casts new light on this final human expansion. It explores the fundamental roles of oceanography and of global climate change in determining the paths, sequence, timing and range of Spice Island-based maritime migrations ranging across a quarter of the globe. The book is of interest to Pacific prehistorians, oceanographers and American anthropologists concerned with the diffusionist debate. For oceanographers it presents the new idea of the role of the West Pacific Warm Pool and of three of its four major currents in determining the evolution of voyaging in two oceans. For diffusionists it provides new chronological and technological contexts in which the issue of diffusionism needs to be reconsidered. For prehistorians it creates a paradigmatic shift by establishing a new time depth and mechanism for Polynesian exploration, offers a new view of voyaging and exploration strategies and of economic imperatives and adds a new dimension to the debate on Polynesian origins.

Biographie:
.

Sommaire:
Early Exploration Strategies and Migration Paths.- 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 the Evolution of Canoe Design.- Studying the History of Spice Island Migration Through Cultural Diffusion.- Evidence for a Lapita-Age First Settlement of New Zealand.- 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 Palaeodemography: 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.- Sketching a Chronology for the Exploration and Colonization of the Pacific.- 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.