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The real mystery behind Moana: After 1,700 years, why did Polynesians suddenly sail east?
New climate evidence adds context to these long voyages.
https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/07/the-real-mystery-behind-moana-after-1700-years-why-did-polynesians-suddenly-sail-east/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social
@arstechnica NatGeo (a Disney operation… ) recently aired a 2-part series on the Polynesian voyages. Very much worth a watch. The hypothesis there was that it was the creation of the double-hulled canoe (basically a catamaran) which made it possible to make the longer leaps from the Samoa/Tonga region to Aotearoa, RapaNui, and Hawaii. Based on this article, climate seems to have provided the motivation.
And it is absolutely astounding what Polynesians did.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/show/2309f393-36b5-402b-8301-9f8dfe0b6028
@arstechnica great read! Thanks
Droughts caused by the cycle weather caused by shifting currents btw
@arstechnica maybe the ancient polynesian the rock ate all the protein?
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