Discovery of America is an issue that dominated pre- historic and scientific studies during the late twentieth century. Initially, it was generally agreed that European voyages led by Christopher Columbus were the first non natives to discover America in 1492. However, in the 20th century, scholars found out that other groups of people had discovered the land long before the voyages. Among these groups include the Polynesians, the Chinese, jomon culture and the solutreans. The movie, "who really discovered America" on the history channel in YouTube illustrates the evidences discovered by scientists and pre-historians regarding the society that actually discovered America. The Polynesians have more credible evidence over the other groups and thus being more likely to be the true discoverers of America (Lang 439).
Two issues dominating the study included the question whether there was pre-Colombian introduction of chicken in South America and whether there is credible evidence to determine whether the chicken had unquestionable Polynesian origin. Scholars have identified that the pre-historic Polynesians may have introduced chicken in South America long before Christopher Columbus set his foot in the American soil. The argument was reached at following a research conducted by Alice storey, an anthropology PHD candidate in the University of Auckland, a report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal.
During the research, Alice discovered chicken bone in one of the ancient archeological sites in Chile which resembled Polynesian chicken. The origin of the artifact was traced through a DNA test conducted by Alice and his associate professor, Lisa Matisoo-smith. The DNA test identified that the bones had the same DNA sequence as Polynesian chicken from Niue, Hawaii, Tonga and Easter Island. Carbon dating performed on the artifact showed that the bone with characteristics relating to Polynesian chicken existed since 1321. The following picture illustrates the Asian rooster, the type of chicken believed to have been to South America by the Polynesians.
In addition to the Polynesian chicken bone discovered in Chile, evidence over the fact that Polynesians were the first people to discover America continued to expand with the discovery of an American sweet potato in most Polynesian pre-historic sites. The American specie of sweet potato was discovered in some parts of Polynesia including Cook Islands and Magia and is believed to have existed at around 1000AD. The discovery proved that Polynesians had contacts with the people of South America thus strengthening the idea that America was discovered by the Polynesians and not the European voyages under the leadership of Christopher Columbus as it was believed earlier (McNeil 231).
The debate over the exact discoveries of America has been developed further by archeological evidence discovered by linguists and archeologists. Archeologists argue that the Polynesian master navigators might have introduced their watercraft skills in Chumash leading to the production of the Malibu lagoon Chumash. The Chumash people of southern California coast referred to themselves as ‘people of the Tamol' and they called their canoe ‘a house of the sea'. The skills adopted by the people of Chumash in the construction of their canoe resembled the Tamol skills held by master Polynesian voyagers. With the skills, the people of south California made the sewn plank canoes which made significant developments in their lifestyles. The following picture depicts a sewn plank canoe as shown by Kris Hirst.
The cultures of the people along the coast of southern California and island Gabrielino are semi-maritime, indicating that they had experiences with a group of people whose maritime technology had achieved great heights. Though the maritime culture could have developed locally within the society, their resemblance with the ones for the Polynesians made scientists and historians believe that the Polynesians were the first group of non natives to discover America. The idea that the culture started spontaneously along the coast and developed to an extent that it could also be adopted by the people of the islands is not believed to have happened as a result of the Sonora-yuman culture or the Californian basis. Therefore, there is the possibility that the culture was introduced to the people of California and the highlands by a group of voyagers across the pacific at an age believed to be earlier than 1492, when Christopher Columbus was thought to have discovered the country
In conclusion, the answer to the longtime debate was arrived at following discoveries of credible evidences discovered pre-historians and scientists. Research and studies done by scholars has identified that the type of poultry in South America is the same as poultry in Polynesia. This shows clearly that there were contacts between the Polynesians and the people of South America. The age of the discovered chicken bone predated European voyages led by Christopher Columbus thus bringing sense to the fact that the Polynesians were the first people to discover America. In addition, American sweet potato was also discovered in ancient historic sites in Polynesia. Similar types of canoes, harpoons, psychological cosmology and round shell fish hooks were discovered in areas of both South America and Polynesia. The evidence clears the doubt that them Polynesians handmade voyages to South America long before the European voyages. Therefore, it is now clear that the Polynesians were the first non natives to set foot in the American land, an action that greatly improved lifestyles of the natives in America
Two issues dominating the study included the question whether there was pre-Colombian introduction of chicken in South America and whether there is credible evidence to determine whether the chicken had unquestionable Polynesian origin. Scholars have identified that the pre-historic Polynesians may have introduced chicken in South America long before Christopher Columbus set his foot in the American soil. The argument was reached at following a research conducted by Alice storey, an anthropology PHD candidate in the University of Auckland, a report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal.
During the research, Alice discovered chicken bone in one of the ancient archeological sites in Chile which resembled Polynesian chicken. The origin of the artifact was traced through a DNA test conducted by Alice and his associate professor, Lisa Matisoo-smith. The DNA test identified that the bones had the same DNA sequence as Polynesian chicken from Niue, Hawaii, Tonga and Easter Island. Carbon dating performed on the artifact showed that the bone with characteristics relating to Polynesian chicken existed since 1321. The following picture illustrates the Asian rooster, the type of chicken believed to have been to South America by the Polynesians.
In addition to the Polynesian chicken bone discovered in Chile, evidence over the fact that Polynesians were the first people to discover America continued to expand with the discovery of an American sweet potato in most Polynesian pre-historic sites. The American specie of sweet potato was discovered in some parts of Polynesia including Cook Islands and Magia and is believed to have existed at around 1000AD. The discovery proved that Polynesians had contacts with the people of South America thus strengthening the idea that America was discovered by the Polynesians and not the European voyages under the leadership of Christopher Columbus as it was believed earlier (McNeil 231).
The debate over the exact discoveries of America has been developed further by archeological evidence discovered by linguists and archeologists. Archeologists argue that the Polynesian master navigators might have introduced their watercraft skills in Chumash leading to the production of the Malibu lagoon Chumash. The Chumash people of southern California coast referred to themselves as ‘people of the Tamol' and they called their canoe ‘a house of the sea'. The skills adopted by the people of Chumash in the construction of their canoe resembled the Tamol skills held by master Polynesian voyagers. With the skills, the people of south California made the sewn plank canoes which made significant developments in their lifestyles. The following picture depicts a sewn plank canoe as shown by Kris Hirst.
The cultures of the people along the coast of southern California and island Gabrielino are semi-maritime, indicating that they had experiences with a group of people whose maritime technology had achieved great heights. Though the maritime culture could have developed locally within the society, their resemblance with the ones for the Polynesians made scientists and historians believe that the Polynesians were the first group of non natives to discover America. The idea that the culture started spontaneously along the coast and developed to an extent that it could also be adopted by the people of the islands is not believed to have happened as a result of the Sonora-yuman culture or the Californian basis. Therefore, there is the possibility that the culture was introduced to the people of California and the highlands by a group of voyagers across the pacific at an age believed to be earlier than 1492, when Christopher Columbus was thought to have discovered the country
In conclusion, the answer to the longtime debate was arrived at following discoveries of credible evidences discovered pre-historians and scientists. Research and studies done by scholars has identified that the type of poultry in South America is the same as poultry in Polynesia. This shows clearly that there were contacts between the Polynesians and the people of South America. The age of the discovered chicken bone predated European voyages led by Christopher Columbus thus bringing sense to the fact that the Polynesians were the first people to discover America. In addition, American sweet potato was also discovered in ancient historic sites in Polynesia. Similar types of canoes, harpoons, psychological cosmology and round shell fish hooks were discovered in areas of both South America and Polynesia. The evidence clears the doubt that them Polynesians handmade voyages to South America long before the European voyages. Therefore, it is now clear that the Polynesians were the first non natives to set foot in the American land, an action that greatly improved lifestyles of the natives in America
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