Chapter 20
Dating the First Migration to New Zealand
Abstract Two long genealogies preserved in the Chatham Islands record a 3,000year-long history for the Moriori inhabitants. Major events in that history – one of
extreme isolation – are tied to specific ancestors and so placed in a defined time
line. This time line intersects the main Rarotongan line through a famous early
ancestor common to both lines over 2,000 years ago. Through this connection it
is possible to translate the Chatham Island time line into a western chronology and
so, for example, to estimate dates both for the first settlement of the Chathams and
for the first settlement of New Zealand. These estimates can be sharpened using
new high-resolution climate proxy data based on the analysis of sediments from
Lake Huguang Maar in China. This provides precise dating for events for which
the two Moriori lines provide genealogical estimates. A strong pattern emerges
from climate-based analysis in Chapters 19 and 20: the correlation in all periods for which there is genealogical data, of voyaging activity with rare extreme
climate events. These events can be precisely dated using high-resolution climate
proxy data.
Keywords Moriori genealogies · Lake Huguang Maar climate proxy data · Nearextinction event · Law of non-violence · Low Maori genetic diversity
20.1 Introduction
The Chatham Islands lie in the Great Southern Ocean 870 km east of Christchurch,
New Zealand. Two long genealogies record a 3,000-year-long genealogical history
for the Moriori inhabitants. Major events in that history – one of extreme isolation –
are tied to specific ancestors and so placed in a defined time line. This time line
intersects the main Rarotongan line through a famous early ancestor common to
both lines over 2,000 years ago. Through this remarkable connection, it is possible
to translate the Chatham Island time line into a western chronology and so estimate times both for the first settlement of the Chathams and the first settlement of
New Zealand.
347
C.E.M. Pearce, F.M. Pearce, Oceanic Migration,
DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-3826-5_20, C
Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010
Dating the First Migration to New Zealand
Abstract Two long genealogies preserved in the Chatham Islands record a 3,000year-long history for the Moriori inhabitants. Major events in that history – one of
extreme isolation – are tied to specific ancestors and so placed in a defined time
line. This time line intersects the main Rarotongan line through a famous early
ancestor common to both lines over 2,000 years ago. Through this connection it
is possible to translate the Chatham Island time line into a western chronology and
so, for example, to estimate dates both for the first settlement of the Chathams and
for the first settlement of New Zealand. These estimates can be sharpened using
new high-resolution climate proxy data based on the analysis of sediments from
Lake Huguang Maar in China. This provides precise dating for events for which
the two Moriori lines provide genealogical estimates. A strong pattern emerges
from climate-based analysis in Chapters 19 and 20: the correlation in all periods for which there is genealogical data, of voyaging activity with rare extreme
climate events. These events can be precisely dated using high-resolution climate
proxy data.
Keywords Moriori genealogies · Lake Huguang Maar climate proxy data · Nearextinction event · Law of non-violence · Low Maori genetic diversity
20.1 Introduction
The Chatham Islands lie in the Great Southern Ocean 870 km east of Christchurch,
New Zealand. Two long genealogies record a 3,000-year-long genealogical history
for the Moriori inhabitants. Major events in that history – one of extreme isolation –
are tied to specific ancestors and so placed in a defined time line. This time line
intersects the main Rarotongan line through a famous early ancestor common to
both lines over 2,000 years ago. Through this remarkable connection, it is possible
to translate the Chatham Island time line into a western chronology and so estimate times both for the first settlement of the Chathams and the first settlement of
New Zealand.
347
C.E.M. Pearce, F.M. Pearce, Oceanic Migration,
DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-3826-5_20, C
Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010