Oceania Settlement

Lapita Origins: I’d earlier learned the origin of the Lapita, an indigenous group in the northern Philippines, can be traced back to the first humans around 300,000 years ago in East Africa's Rift Valley, they launching an initial migration out of Africa around 70,000 years ago, heading east along the Arabian Peninsula, following a coastal route along southeast Asia, when during the last Ice Age the lowered sea level exposed the vast landmass of the Sudaland (then connecting the modern-day islands of Southeast Asia & the landmass that would become the Philippines), they crossing that Sudaland to arrive in the northern Philippines around 70,000 years ago, until the Ice Age ended & the ocean waters returned, with the Lapita continuing their journey island hopping by canoe to Taiwan, & southwards, reaching the Bismarck Archipelago around 3500 years ago, from where they embarked on a seaborne expansion, colonizing islands across Melanesia and reaching as far as Tonga and Samoa in western Polynesia, joining with Austronesians to settle the Pacific.

Language Development: Estimates of language emergence in early humans suggests it might have been around 100,000 to 50,000 years ago, undergoing primary development during migration. It's currently believed Lapita spoke a language ancestral to Proto-Oceanic, the reconstructed ancestor of most Austronesian languages, distinct from the Papuan languages spoken by the indigenous populations of Melanesia. Around 4,000 BC the Lapita arrived in Melanesia, encountering indigenous populations speaking various Papuan languages, likely leading to some degree of language mixing and influence, which would have been a form of Proto-Oceanic that had already undergone some changes and possibly incorporated elements from contact with other languages along their migration route.

Lapita Descendants: Regards living descendants of the Lapita, in the Bismarck Archipelago there is evidence suggesting that some tribal descendants of the Lapita carry genetic markers associated with their ancestry, including specific Y-chromosomal DNA haplogroups. Y-DNA Haplogroup M, while not as widespread as in other parts of Oceania, has been found in some populations in the Bismarck Archipelago, particularly in New Britain and New Ireland. This haplogroup is associated with the Austronesian expansion and is believed to have been carried by the Lapita people. There are definitely tribal descendants of the Lapita people with the same genetic markers still living in the Bismarck Archipelago today. Genetic studies have shown a clear connection between the Lapita and several contemporary populations in the region, specifically, groups like the:

• Tolai people of New Britain
• Nakanai people of New Britain
• Siwai people of Bougainville Island

All show genetic markers linking them to the Lapita.

While there's been some degree of mixing with other groups over the millennia, these populations retain a significant portion of Lapita ancestry in their DNA. Further, there are tribal descendants of the Lapita living in Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia who carry genetic markers linked to their Lapita ancestry, including specific Y-chromosomal DNA haplogroups:

• Polynesia: Y-chromosomal haplogroup C2-M38 is particularly prevalent in Polynesia and is strongly linked to the Lapita expansion.
• Melanesia: The situation is more complex in Melanesia due to greater admixture with pre-existing Papuan populations. However, haplogroups like M and S are found at higher frequencies in some Melanesian groups believed to have Lapita ancestry.
• Micronesia: Haplogroup O-M175 is the dominant Y-chromosome lineage in Micronesia and is also associated with the Austronesian expansion, of which the Lapita were a part.

These genetic markers are primarily found in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is passed down through the maternal line, and Y-chromosome DNA, passed down through the paternal line.

Grambank: My understanding is Grambank has a page on Oceanic languages, a subgroup of the Austronesian languages that includes Proto-Oceanic. The Oceanic languages are spoken in a vast area of the Pacific Ocean, from Madagascar to Easter Island, & are all descended from Proto-Oceanic, which is thought to have been spoken around 3,000 years ago.   

Related Supplemental: Taumako

• In Melanesia the island of Taumako is of special significance. As AI notes, “Taumako Island holds a unique and significant place in Melanesia, particularly in the context of Polynesian navigation and cultural heritage. Here are a few reasons for its significance:

a) Preservation of Traditional Navigation: The inhabitants of Taumako have remarkably preserved the ancient Polynesian navigational techniques, including the use of stars, ocean swells, and other natural cues to navigate across vast distances of open ocean. This knowledge, largely lost in other parts of Polynesia, makes Taumako a living repository of invaluable cultural heritage.

b) Construction of Voyaging Canoes: The islanders continue to build and sail traditional voyaging canoes known as "Te Puke," which are similar in design to those used by their ancestors in their epic voyages across the Pacific. This practice highlights their deep connection to the sea and their ancestral heritage.

c) Lapita Ancestry: Taumako is believed to have been settled by the Lapita people, the ancestors of many Polynesian, Micronesian, and some Melanesian populations. The island's archaeological sites and cultural practices offer valuable insights into the Lapita culture and their maritime expansion across the Pacific.   

d) "Polynesian Outlier":  Taumako is classified as a "Polynesian Outlier," a Polynesian community located within the predominantly Melanesian region. This unique position makes it a fascinating case study for understanding the complex interactions and cultural exchange between Polynesian and Melanesian societies.  

Taumako has also been the home (recently relocated to Hawaii) of Melanesia’s version of the “Polynesian Voyaging Society”, Pacific Traditions Society Vaka Taumako Project.

In the documentary series "South Pacific" (2009) Season 1, Episode 2, "Castaways," narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict “visits the remote Taumako Island, where the inhabitants still build and use traditional Melanesian voyaging canoes” (Video. Advance playback to start just past the “Nan Madol” segment, at timecode either 18:47 or, as I’m getting different readings depending on platform, the segment may actually start @) 30:54).

Additionally, the Pacific Traditions Society “Vaka Taumako Project made Two documentary films…We, the Voyagers…a two part Film Series…see both 57 minute films on Vimeo”. The films include coverage of canoe construction & go on voyages that fully capture the adventure of the ancient voyages of discovery & settlement of the islands of Melanesia (Video. Note: Clicking on the film links took me directly to Vimeo, there was no fee,  & despite a “Log in/Join” nag, I just clicked the Play control (▶) & it started right up).

The films may also be viewed on a Home Theater via the Vimeo app, which upon launch may display the message "In 2023, we ended support for Apple TV app…we will no longer publish any new releases…You can continue to view Vimeo videos on your TV", which message you can click past to get to the existing legacy Vaka films. I've created a "captioned printscreen photo album" that directs one to the films - click on each picture to zoom it and follow the instructions in the caption in the lower left corner of the screen capture (Vaka album).

• Lastly of interest are the the Irula people tribal community living in the Nilgiri Mountains of southern India, who carry a unique genetic marker, Y-chromosomal DNA haplogroup F, that can be traced back to the earliest humans who left Africa, suggesting a direct ancestral link, as reported in the documentary "The Story of India", episode 1 “Beginnings” by Michael Wood (Video).

All Righty Then,

Cliff