Identifying Contact with the Americas: A Commensal-Based Approach

Author(s)
Storey, Alice
Clarke, Andrew C
Matisoo-Smith, Elizabeth
Publication Date
2010
Abstract
Commensal models, which can be used to infer prehistoric human mobility, have been designed and applied to understand migration and interaction in the Pacific (Matisoo-Smith 1994, 1996). This chapter describes the elements of successful commensal models and examines how these models may pertain to finding evidence for prehistoric contact between Polynesia and the Americas. Selling out individual components will aid in the identification of new candidate organisms and the collection of data sets appropriate for testing hypotheses of contact between Polynesia and the Americas. In examining the development and utility of commensal models we will focus the bulk of our discussion on those plants, animals, and viruses that have either been identified as evidence for contact or have the potential to in the future. This chapter will serve to clarify the current state of knowledge regarding organisms with real potential for prehistoric transference between Polynesia and the Americas as well as providing the means by which others may be reasonably excluded.
Citation
Polynesians in America: Pre-Columbian Contacts with the New World, p. 111-138
ISBN
9780759120068
0759120064
9780759120044
0759120048
Link
Publisher
AltaMira Press
Edition
1
Title
Identifying Contact with the Americas: A Commensal-Based Approach
Type of document
Book Chapter
Entity Type
Publication

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