Early Migration to the Islands of the Pacific Ocean When and how did humans discover and populate the isolated Pacific islands?
The Science Forum will discuss the Pacific Islands Migration on April 10. An introduction to some of the issues is in the NY Times article 5 Takeaways From the Ancient DNA Research Story and another interesting one, How Ancient Humans Reached Remote South Pacific Islands" How Ancient Humans Reached Remote South Pacific Islands
Among the many interesting issues and questions we will look at, consider:
Where did the Pacific Islanders come from? (And some of the controversies) How did they navigate the huge open waters of the Pacific? What kind of boats allowed such long voyagers? When did the migrations occur? Why was there a 2,000 year hiatus in the voyages? Where does Thor Heyerdahl fit in to the story? And any others you wish to consider.
Please use your favorite web search engine to explore the exciting investigations into the settlement of the South Pacific. Join a dynamic group of individuals who enjoy sharing and discussing science-focused topics. Each month the group selects a new topic to focus on via their online email forum. Speakers and/or readings often support the lively discussions. Monthly areas of focus will be posted here once finalized.