Oceanic Migration

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

Settlement sequence

Transoceanic spice trading

Climate-driven chronology