- IJ
Sidestep: Why did Polynesians stop exploring around 1300AD
The answer is quite simple really. Climate change! Yes, natural climate change.
From about AD 950 to AD 1250, the 'world' enjoyed a period of global warming. Natural global warming. After that, however, the world began to get colder and colder... and colder. This was natural global cooling. This phenomenon began around AD1300 and lasted in varying degrees all the way up to 1850. Nobody knows exactly what caused it. Some cite changes in ocean circulation or a decrease in human population. I think it's cycles - after all the earth is a living thing.
You see, whatever the cause, temperatures, winds and ocean currents changed and thus ended the grand Polynesian explorations. I guess many could have been lost at sea or stranded halfway to a destination or even ended up elsewhere. They might have been great navigators - but not when the ocean currents and winds changed. During this warm period Polynesians spread everywhere and voyages from and to South America and NW America occurred as well. But it all stopped around 1300AD, only 20 years after the so called fleet arrivals came to NZ........and surface currents do exist from Melanesia to NZ.
We have always maintained Melanesians were in NZ first based on a number of factors, including early photographic anthropological evidence and large numbers of artifactual proof. But this would have been earlier than 800AD and in fact, that time period prior to 800AD may have had entirely different winds currents and temperatures as well. Currents from Melanesia may have varied over millennia. The Moriori got to the Chathams but it would be very difficult to get back west, impossible in reality once their canoes were too old - as the islands had little in the way of decent timber with with to build one.
Of course when people talk of what is possible and what is not, you can sail against ocean currents in any form of functioning masted craft. However, getting from Melanesia to NZ is not that hard, but getting back is very difficult. Yes, they were here in small groupings, mainly in the sounds of Cook Strait and on the west of the North Island. I suggest some of Maori descent do a DNA test like one of our followers did. He's very tall, and has an artifact that is huge just like we know of. If Maori do this test, many will find more Melanesian DNA than they suppose. Do it especially of you have a photo of an old relative with a flatter and wider nose than normal.
Still beleiove what we seek is Melanesian not Polynesian and thats makes it more contentious and difficult for Maoir when it comes out.
