Chapter 6
Transoceanic Voyaging in the Pacific
Following the Kuro Shio Current to America
Abstract This chapter provides evidence for the fulfilment of what many would see
as the most extreme prediction of the central paradigm of the book: the prediction
that Spice Island mariners, in two periods separated by the 600-year global cold
period after 1000 BC, followed the Kuro Shio Current to its continental limit on
the southern coast of California. There is archaeological evidence for Spice Island
contact with America in both periods and there is evidence for pre-Columbian introductions of the Polynesian chicken to America. Cultural complexes associated with
chicken introductions are seen to be linked to the timings of introductions, to the
ultimate origins of the chicken lineages involved and to diffusion paths for those
lineages within America.
Keywords Pre-Columbian contact · Chicken in America · Cultural complexes ·
Diffusion paths
6.1 Introduction
Our main task in this chapter is to demonstrate the soundness of the central
paradigm of our book by providing evidence for the fulfilment of what some
would see as its most extreme inherent prediction: the prediction that Spice
Island mariners, in two periods separated by the 600-year global cold period
after 1000 BC, followed the Kuro Shio Current to its continental limit on the
southern Californian coast. The task is overshadowed by the diffusionist/antidiffusionist debate that has bedevilled American anthropology for more than a
century. There is a long history of controversy surrounding the possibility of sustained Chinese contact with prehistoric America. While some prehistorians and
archaeologists argue for an independent evolution of American prehistoric civilizations, others claim a long history of Chinese influence. Chinese influence is
seen by diffusionists as contributing to, and even fundamentally determining, the
evolution of those civilizations. Those arguing for independent evolution reject
the possibility of transpacific contact. Suggestions of associated technological
103
C.E.M. Pearce, F.M. Pearce, Oceanic Migration,
DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-3826-5_6, C
Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010
Transoceanic Voyaging in the Pacific
Following the Kuro Shio Current to America
Abstract This chapter provides evidence for the fulfilment of what many would see
as the most extreme prediction of the central paradigm of the book: the prediction
that Spice Island mariners, in two periods separated by the 600-year global cold
period after 1000 BC, followed the Kuro Shio Current to its continental limit on
the southern coast of California. There is archaeological evidence for Spice Island
contact with America in both periods and there is evidence for pre-Columbian introductions of the Polynesian chicken to America. Cultural complexes associated with
chicken introductions are seen to be linked to the timings of introductions, to the
ultimate origins of the chicken lineages involved and to diffusion paths for those
lineages within America.
Keywords Pre-Columbian contact · Chicken in America · Cultural complexes ·
Diffusion paths
6.1 Introduction
Our main task in this chapter is to demonstrate the soundness of the central
paradigm of our book by providing evidence for the fulfilment of what some
would see as its most extreme inherent prediction: the prediction that Spice
Island mariners, in two periods separated by the 600-year global cold period
after 1000 BC, followed the Kuro Shio Current to its continental limit on the
southern Californian coast. The task is overshadowed by the diffusionist/antidiffusionist debate that has bedevilled American anthropology for more than a
century. There is a long history of controversy surrounding the possibility of sustained Chinese contact with prehistoric America. While some prehistorians and
archaeologists argue for an independent evolution of American prehistoric civilizations, others claim a long history of Chinese influence. Chinese influence is
seen by diffusionists as contributing to, and even fundamentally determining, the
evolution of those civilizations. Those arguing for independent evolution reject
the possibility of transpacific contact. Suggestions of associated technological
103
C.E.M. Pearce, F.M. Pearce, Oceanic Migration,
DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-3826-5_6, C
Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010