116
6 Transoceanic Voyaging in the Pacific
Our central paradigm creates a context for interpreting both early and late
archaeological evidence for Spice Island contact with southern California and for
interpreting evidence for the pre-Columbian introduction or introductions of the
chicken to America. The context it provides is strikingly different from that implicit
in the accepted paradigm for the prehistoric colonization of the Pacific, which
sees settlement following solely from the late west–east colonization of Eastern
Polynesian from Western Polynesia.
In summary, at the very least one might argue for one Spice Island first-wave
introduction of the melanotic chicken into America, with the breed diffusing slowly
from California with maize from Mesoamerica and Spice Island single-piece curved
shell fishhooks. This first-wave introduction of the melanotic chicken was probably
associated with the cultural complex of cockfighting. Multiple names for the chicken
in America, however, as Carter points out, suggest multiple introductions of different chicken breeds: small melanotic chickens from India, rumpless silkies sourced
from Japan and white chickens perhaps deriving from Lombok or the Philippines.
Johannessen’s research suggests at least one second-wave Chinese introduction
to America of the melanotic chicken, associated with a Chinese shamanic/medical
complex. Clearly this melanotic chicken was associated with the Maya and diffused
from a Mayan “hearth”, its spread linked with the spread of Mayan culture and
language.
In Chapter 8 we consider the possibility of a continuum of Spice Island contact
with America over 2,600 years (minus the 600-year global cold period), associated
with the trading of American plants to India. Such a possibility would expand the
scope for multiple Spice Island chicken introductions to America beyond anything
contemplated in this chapter.
Clearly the history of chicken introductions is complex, as is the history of the
diffusion of varying chicken breeds and of cultural complexes associated with them.
The continuing importance in America of the melanotic chicken over a long span of
time is obvious. It is just possible that line-breeding to enhance prized characteristics
may have had sufficient continuity to make it possible for geneticists one day to
determine how many first- and second-wave introductions there were, to determine
the sources of the melanotic lines and to trace diffusion paths within America.
Placed in a context of possible multiple pre-Columbian Spice Island introductions of the melanotic chicken, we might consider evidence for Spice Island contact
with America as extending beyond the Californian archaeological evidence for firstand second-wave Spice Island contact with America. The linguistic and cultural
evidence supporting multiple chicken introductions raises the possibility of more
extended Spice Island contact with America than the archaeological evidence from
California alone suggests.
References
1. Jett, S (1978) Precolumbian transoceanic contacts. In Jennings J (ed.) Ancient Native
Americans. W.H. Freeman & Co, San Francisco, pp. 640–641
2. Lang J (1877) Origin and migrations of the Polynesian nation. George Robertson, Sydney
6 Transoceanic Voyaging in the Pacific
Our central paradigm creates a context for interpreting both early and late
archaeological evidence for Spice Island contact with southern California and for
interpreting evidence for the pre-Columbian introduction or introductions of the
chicken to America. The context it provides is strikingly different from that implicit
in the accepted paradigm for the prehistoric colonization of the Pacific, which
sees settlement following solely from the late west–east colonization of Eastern
Polynesian from Western Polynesia.
In summary, at the very least one might argue for one Spice Island first-wave
introduction of the melanotic chicken into America, with the breed diffusing slowly
from California with maize from Mesoamerica and Spice Island single-piece curved
shell fishhooks. This first-wave introduction of the melanotic chicken was probably
associated with the cultural complex of cockfighting. Multiple names for the chicken
in America, however, as Carter points out, suggest multiple introductions of different chicken breeds: small melanotic chickens from India, rumpless silkies sourced
from Japan and white chickens perhaps deriving from Lombok or the Philippines.
Johannessen’s research suggests at least one second-wave Chinese introduction
to America of the melanotic chicken, associated with a Chinese shamanic/medical
complex. Clearly this melanotic chicken was associated with the Maya and diffused
from a Mayan “hearth”, its spread linked with the spread of Mayan culture and
language.
In Chapter 8 we consider the possibility of a continuum of Spice Island contact
with America over 2,600 years (minus the 600-year global cold period), associated
with the trading of American plants to India. Such a possibility would expand the
scope for multiple Spice Island chicken introductions to America beyond anything
contemplated in this chapter.
Clearly the history of chicken introductions is complex, as is the history of the
diffusion of varying chicken breeds and of cultural complexes associated with them.
The continuing importance in America of the melanotic chicken over a long span of
time is obvious. It is just possible that line-breeding to enhance prized characteristics
may have had sufficient continuity to make it possible for geneticists one day to
determine how many first- and second-wave introductions there were, to determine
the sources of the melanotic lines and to trace diffusion paths within America.
Placed in a context of possible multiple pre-Columbian Spice Island introductions of the melanotic chicken, we might consider evidence for Spice Island contact
with America as extending beyond the Californian archaeological evidence for firstand second-wave Spice Island contact with America. The linguistic and cultural
evidence supporting multiple chicken introductions raises the possibility of more
extended Spice Island contact with America than the archaeological evidence from
California alone suggests.
References
1. Jett, S (1978) Precolumbian transoceanic contacts. In Jennings J (ed.) Ancient Native
Americans. W.H. Freeman & Co, San Francisco, pp. 640–641
2. Lang J (1877) Origin and migrations of the Polynesian nation. George Robertson, Sydney