Chapter 2
The Genetic Context
Spice Trading, Cold Resistance and the Origin
of the Lapita Peoples
Abstract The prehistory for the Polynesian peoples sketched in this chapter rests
on mounting genetic evidence for a Lapita and Polynesian homeland in the Spice
Islands. It rests too on recognition of the basic importance to the successful colonization of the Pacific of the genetic acquisition of cold resistance and famine
resistance which conferred some protection against hypothermia. We argue that
fundamental changes to the Spice Islanders’ physiology and an evolution of maritime skills and technologies accompanied their progression from local to regional
to international spice trading. That the ancestors of the Lapita and Polynesian peoples inhabited the Spice Islands suggests a coherent relationship in their prehistory
between economics, geography, history and genetics. This relationship is explored
in this chapter.
Keywords Genetics · Cold resistance · Famine resistance · Commensal
animals · Halmahera
2.1 Introduction
The prehistory for the Lapita peoples that we present in this chapter has its evidence
base in
(i) mounting genetic and other evidence for a Lapita and Polynesian homeland
in the Spice Islands and specifically in Halmahera, the largest island in the
archipelago;
(ii) recognition of the basic importance to the successful settlement of the Pacific
of the Spice Islanders’ genetic acquisition, over thousands of years of maritime
trading, of cold adaptation and of the “thrifty gene” which conferred famine
resistance, making it physiologically possible for them eventually to undertake
transoceanic voyages in low-lying craft; and
(iii) recognition of the historical and practical implications of a Spice Island base
for Pacific prehistory. We shall argue that the history and geography of the
17
C.E.M. Pearce, F.M. Pearce, Oceanic Migration,
DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-3826-5_2, C
Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010
The Genetic Context
Spice Trading, Cold Resistance and the Origin
of the Lapita Peoples
Abstract The prehistory for the Polynesian peoples sketched in this chapter rests
on mounting genetic evidence for a Lapita and Polynesian homeland in the Spice
Islands. It rests too on recognition of the basic importance to the successful colonization of the Pacific of the genetic acquisition of cold resistance and famine
resistance which conferred some protection against hypothermia. We argue that
fundamental changes to the Spice Islanders’ physiology and an evolution of maritime skills and technologies accompanied their progression from local to regional
to international spice trading. That the ancestors of the Lapita and Polynesian peoples inhabited the Spice Islands suggests a coherent relationship in their prehistory
between economics, geography, history and genetics. This relationship is explored
in this chapter.
Keywords Genetics · Cold resistance · Famine resistance · Commensal
animals · Halmahera
2.1 Introduction
The prehistory for the Lapita peoples that we present in this chapter has its evidence
base in
(i) mounting genetic and other evidence for a Lapita and Polynesian homeland
in the Spice Islands and specifically in Halmahera, the largest island in the
archipelago;
(ii) recognition of the basic importance to the successful settlement of the Pacific
of the Spice Islanders’ genetic acquisition, over thousands of years of maritime
trading, of cold adaptation and of the “thrifty gene” which conferred famine
resistance, making it physiologically possible for them eventually to undertake
transoceanic voyages in low-lying craft; and
(iii) recognition of the historical and practical implications of a Spice Island base
for Pacific prehistory. We shall argue that the history and geography of the
17
C.E.M. Pearce, F.M. Pearce, Oceanic Migration,
DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-3826-5_2, C
Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010