Polynesian sailors were the first known humans to colonize land, sailing to New Zealand as long ago as 1200 CE (Common Era). However, no one knew how the Polynesians were able to sail such long distances in canoes. Now, a newly-discovered 600-year-old canoe and new research about wind patterns may hold some of the answers.
Two teams of researchers each made a breakthrough in understanding the early Polynesian travels. One team wrote a paper about an extremely advanced canoe believed to be Polynesian, that dates back to the year 1400. This canoe sheds new light on the Polynesians' seafaring methods. Another team wrote a paper theorizing that a temporary shift in wind patterns may have allowed Polynesians to sail long distances in canoes.
Both research teams published their papers yesterday, Sept. 29, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Using data from samples of tree rings, sediments and stalagmites, the research team behind the discovery of changed wind conditions was able to create a simulation of what conditions in Polynesia would have been like from about 800 to 1600. The team found that, for decades at a time, winds shifted to allow for easier access to places that previously would have been quite hard to reach from Polynesia by canoe. The team was able to pinpoint the time span Polynesians would have been able to travel east to the Easter Islands and southwest to New Zealand. The change in wind patterns stopped after 1300, making it hard for Polynesians to continue traveling. However, since the canoe discovered was dated to 1400, it is not clear whether the Polynesians were hindered by the wind patterns.
"We're going to have to discuss, clearly. We think Polynesians were really good sailors ... we think they were able to sail down here with or without help," said Dilys Amanda Johns, lead author of the paper about the canoe.
The other team studied a canoe that was discovered recently in New Zealand when strong winds moved the sand that was burying it. The wood the canoe was built with is native to New Zealand, but the canoe was decorated with a sea turtle, which is common in Polynesian art but not in New Zealand art. The team also noted that the boat was similarly designed to another canoe found in the Society Islands, implying that it was designed by Polynesians. The boat was likely about 20 meters (about 65 feet) long when it was complete. The boat looked very different from the way Europeans had described Polynesian ships at the time.
"It was one of those situations where it sort of took your breath away. I'd never seen anything like it," said Johns.
