Chapter 4
Transoceanic Trade and Migration (1)
Following Currents from the West Pacific Warm
Pool into the Indian Ocean: The Cinnamon Route
and the Colonization of Madagascar
Abstract For probably 500 years before the descent of a global cold period in about
1000 BC and for a thousand years after it ended, there is evidence that mariners
followed a major West Pacific Warm Pool current from the Spice Islands to east
Africa over a distance of more than 11,000 km. This trade route became known as
the Cinnamon Route. Evidence from many sources supports the historicity, range,
consistent use and economic viability of the Cinnamon Route: historical evidence
stretching back to Roman times for its existence as a trade route; maritime evidence from the survival to the present day in the Indian Ocean of the Halmaherian
double-outrigger that sailed the route; and genetic evidence of Spice Island involvement with the route as early colonizers of Madagascar based on the possession by
Malagasy of Asian descent of a near-coalescent Polynesian motif.
Keywords Cinnamon route · Madagascar · Double-outrigger · Polynesian
motif · Terqa
4.1 Introduction
A prehistory for the Lapita peoples in which, whether in the short-term or over a
longer period, they are seen as in transit in Island Southeast Asia suggests they were
a single cohesive group. It suggests a single migration which moved through Island
Southeast Asia into Remote Oceania and then out into the Pacific. This scenario
does not encourage us to think about Spice Island populations which remained in
Island Southeast Asia and provided a base for future migrations from the region.
If, however, the Lapita people are seen as an ancient people indigenous to the
Spice Islands, the continuing history of genetically, culturally and linguistically
related tribal peoples, who remained in the region after the Lapita exodus, needs
to be explored.
We have suggested the possibility of a long migration history for the Spice
Islanders within Island Southeast Asia, perhaps dating back to the drowning of
Sundaland in the Ice Age floods of 11,500 and 7,500 years ago. The speed and
67
C.E.M. Pearce, F.M. Pearce, Oceanic Migration,
DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-3826-5_4, C
Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010
Transoceanic Trade and Migration (1)
Following Currents from the West Pacific Warm
Pool into the Indian Ocean: The Cinnamon Route
and the Colonization of Madagascar
Abstract For probably 500 years before the descent of a global cold period in about
1000 BC and for a thousand years after it ended, there is evidence that mariners
followed a major West Pacific Warm Pool current from the Spice Islands to east
Africa over a distance of more than 11,000 km. This trade route became known as
the Cinnamon Route. Evidence from many sources supports the historicity, range,
consistent use and economic viability of the Cinnamon Route: historical evidence
stretching back to Roman times for its existence as a trade route; maritime evidence from the survival to the present day in the Indian Ocean of the Halmaherian
double-outrigger that sailed the route; and genetic evidence of Spice Island involvement with the route as early colonizers of Madagascar based on the possession by
Malagasy of Asian descent of a near-coalescent Polynesian motif.
Keywords Cinnamon route · Madagascar · Double-outrigger · Polynesian
motif · Terqa
4.1 Introduction
A prehistory for the Lapita peoples in which, whether in the short-term or over a
longer period, they are seen as in transit in Island Southeast Asia suggests they were
a single cohesive group. It suggests a single migration which moved through Island
Southeast Asia into Remote Oceania and then out into the Pacific. This scenario
does not encourage us to think about Spice Island populations which remained in
Island Southeast Asia and provided a base for future migrations from the region.
If, however, the Lapita people are seen as an ancient people indigenous to the
Spice Islands, the continuing history of genetically, culturally and linguistically
related tribal peoples, who remained in the region after the Lapita exodus, needs
to be explored.
We have suggested the possibility of a long migration history for the Spice
Islanders within Island Southeast Asia, perhaps dating back to the drowning of
Sundaland in the Ice Age floods of 11,500 and 7,500 years ago. The speed and
67
C.E.M. Pearce, F.M. Pearce, Oceanic Migration,
DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-3826-5_4, C
Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010