Polynesian Pathways

[Ptarmigan]

Here's a cool page about Polynesian and human history in general. It sure will debunk the Bering Strait Theory.

Polynesian Pathways

[x-y-no]

Thanks, that looks interesting.

I do think there was far more seafaring in prehistory than is generally understood. In addition to the tropical maritime cultures, I seem to recall that there's some good evidence that early northern cultures like the red paint people made transoceanic voyages.

[Ptarmigan]

Thanks, that looks interesting.

I do think there was far more seafaring in prehistory than is generally understood. In addition to the tropical maritime cultures, I seem to recall that there's some good evidence that early northern cultures like the red paint people made transoceanic voyages.

I know Ancient Egyptians were seafaring and are believed to have sailed to the Americas. Reed ships look flimsy, but they handled the open ocean fine. Roman ships have been found off the coast of Brazil.

[MiamiensisWx]

Thanks, that looks interesting.

I do think there was far more seafaring in prehistory than is generally understood. In addition to the tropical maritime cultures, I seem to recall that there's some good evidence that early northern cultures like the red paint people made transoceanic voyages.

I tend to agree as well. There is numerous and continually growing intriguing evidence that rather strongly support that basis. While the Kon-Tiki expedition may have made some incorrect assumptions in regards to the theory that some of the earlier inhabitants of what is now Polynesia trace their ancestry to Peru via sea travel movement, the general idea that marine movements played a large role in cultural movement around the world is quite valid, in my opinion.

The research is fascinating, and it also holds strong revealings of previously unknown facets of many cultural groups - including on poilitical and social behavior, culture, and movement - that were never previously extensively studied nor uncovered. It helps us to realize that we may likely have underestimated the cababilities of older cultures in some respects at the very least.

[x-y-no]

Well, the Romans were certainly capable of it. I'm not quite so convinced the Egyptians actually did it, although it's an attractive idea.

But your link and the stuff I was talking about refer to far older stone age cultures. I think it's very easy to fall into a "modernist" bias and really underestimate their capabilities, particularly in terms of long-range travel.

[Ptarmigan]

Well, the Romans were certainly capable of it. I'm not quite so convinced the Egyptians actually did it, although it's an attractive idea.

But your link and the stuff I was talking about refer to far older stone age cultures. I think it's very easy to fall into a "modernist" bias and really underestimate their capabilities, particularly in terms of long-range travel.

I tend think that the first Americans came by boat from the South Pacific in the form of Polynesians, Ainus, and Aborgines. Then Cro-Magnon would be the second wave, and finally Asian wave, which is what we see today.

[Yarrah]

I know Ancient Egyptians were seafaring and are believed to have sailed to the Americas. Reed ships look flimsy, but they handled the open ocean fine. Roman ships have been found off the coast of Brazil.

Never heard of those discoveries. Got any links or further information about these roman ships, because I can't find any scientific source? Kinda interested in it.
Anyway, I still think that the Polynesian people originate from Asia. Genetically they look much more like the Indonesian and Thai people then the south-american people. It also corresponds with the the estimated time when the atolls were first colonized. The ones close to Asia were inhabited earlier then the ones that are situated more to the west and which are closer to South America.

[kevin]

Ideas that the Egyptians or Romans reached the Americas are pure conjecture. It is possible, but there is no evidence of transatlantic links or trade. At best you'd have the exceptional case of a ship being far adrift. Romans had a belief the Phoenicians might have made it around Africa, but there is no evidence of that either.

I have read nothing about Roman ships off the coast of Brazil, and that would be highly interesting but I am going to need a few printed sources for that. The distance from West Africa to Brazil isn't that great, so it is possible, though I think unlikely.

[Ptarmigan]

Yarrah and Kevin:
I am open to a lot of things. The Roman shipwreck found in Brazil was a recent find. I have heard in Egyptian mummies they found coca leaves and lotus from South America.

Links
Phoenicians in Brazil
Archaeology Odyssey Archives January/February 2000
The Mystery of the Cocaine Mummies
American Drugs in Egyptian Mummies: A Review of the Evidence

[gtalum]

Any site that claims with certainty that Atlantis existed is highly suspect.