Mystery of the Pacific Ocean

The Europeans' "discovery" of the Pacific Island began in the 16th century as they groped their way eastward from around the Cape of Good Hope, or westward from around Cape Horn.


But what they found were island cultures that had existed for a long time, complete with royal hierarchies and elaborate ceremonies: complex societies with long histories.


Captain Cook was one of the first to wonder: just how did they get there? And when?

The story of the first settlers of the Pacific Islands has gradually emerged, thanks to the efforts of many archaeologists, agronomists, oceanographers and even linguists. And of many present day Polynesian people who are delving into their past and recording information for the future generations of island people.


In this blog I will record what has been learned about these early explorers whom we now know began an extraordinary journey from Southern China, back in the Stone Age.


It's a story that has to be told.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT THE OCEAN GOING CANOES LOOKED LIKE?

If the Pacific Ocean migrations of the Austronesian peoples ended about 1.000 AD - with the discovery and settlement of New Zealand - how do we know what their canoes looked like?

There are several sources of information  about the 50 to 90 foot ocean going canoes these explorers used:

  • The late 1700's print taken from Captain Cook's artist Sydney Parkinson, which shows two double hulled canoes - refer my previous blog and picture. Parkinson had an accurate eye for detail and recorded many things seen by Cook and his crew on the First Voyage.
  • On the island of Huahine, 150 km west of Tahiti, while digging foundations for a new hotel, a partly constructed double hull canoe was unearthed and recorded. It was surmised that around 1000 AD this canoe was being built when the island was hit by a tsunami which buried the canoe in mud.
  • The traditional songs of many Polynesian people tell the stories of the canoes and their explorations. Some old islanders still have oral knowledge handed down  from their forebears about the design of the canoes, often known as "waka" or "vaka" in Polynesia and New Zealand.
  • Much research has been carried out since the 1930's to capture the knowledge of these voyaging canoes as the old mariners of the Islands were passing away. As a result we know of the double hulled construction, which Sir Joseph Banks on Capt. Cook' first voyage estimated to be 50 feet to 75 feet long, and could easily outsail the 'Endeavour'.
  • The existing War Wakas in New Zealand - one  measures 120 ft long, though of single hull construction. It is still used for ceremonial occasions.



Representation of a Pacific Voyaging Canoe.
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