Peopling of Polynesia

The migration of humans across the globe has long been studied by various scientists, and the settlement of islands across the South Pacific was our species' last great diaspora. Who were these people? Where did they come from? How did they get here? When did they get here? What drove these people, through different islands over many millennia, to embark across thousands of miles of open ocean toward unknown, uninhabited lands? Was it because of limited resources, conflicts with other cultures, accidental drifting, or simply curiosity? Berra explores these questions using evidence from linguistics, archaeology, and biology. In The Peopling of Polynesia: From Taiwan to Easter Island, Dr. Tim Berra presents the compelling story of how Polynesians reached the most isolated islands on earth, scattered throughout the vast Pacific Ocean, where they first lived, and how they arrived. In addition, he presents a focused look at these islands, their geography, flora and fauna, and how language and culture were shaped over time. This is the perfect book for anyone interested in the people of Polynesia and the last major period of human expansion, from Taiwan to Hawaii, Easter Island and New Zealand.