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Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Early Polynesians Sailed Thousands of Miles for Trade


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The early Polynesians sailed thousands of miles over an area roughly the size of Western Europe for trade and exploration, suggests a new analysis of stone woodworking tools.

The work supports a "proof of concept" sailing voyage that showed it was possible to travel from Hawaii to Tahiti and back using only traditional navigation techniques.

Illustration by Miranda Mulligan