New Theory+Facts about Easter Island/Rapa Nui?(img +txt heavy) - General Tiki

S Sneakytiki Tiki Socialite Boise, Idaho Joined: Mar 31, 2003 Posts: 1795	S Sneakytiki Posted posted on Sun, Apr 22, 2007 4:46 AM Kongtiki, I just re-read that article. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1399-0039.2006.00717.x?cookieSet=1 It says the early Euro and Amerind genes are from pre-1800 only, not early as in founder or ancient contact. Here is a quote from the article. "Most archaeological and linguistic evidence suggest a Polynesian origin of the population of Easter Island (Rapanui), and this view has been supported by the identification of Polynesian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms in prehistoric skeletal remains. However, some evidence of an early South American contact also exists (the sweet potato, bottle gourd etc.), but genetic studies have so far failed to show an early Amerindian contribution to the gene pool on Easter Island. To address this issue, we analyzed mtDNA and Y chromosome markers and performed high-resolution human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping of DNA harvested from previously collected sera of 48 reputedly nonadmixed native Easter Islanders. All individuals carried mtDNA types and HLA alleles previously found in Polynesia, and most men carried Y chromosome markers of Polynesian origin, providing further evidence of a Polynesian origin of the population of Easter Island. A few individuals carried HLA alleles and/or Y chromosome markers of European origin. More interestingly, some individuals carried the HLA alleles A0212 and B3905, which are of typical Amerindian origin. The genealogy of some of the individuals carrying these non-Polynesian HLA alleles and their haplotypic backgrounds suggest an introduction into Easter Island in the early 1800s, or earlier. Thus, there may have been an early European and Amerindian contribution to the Polynesian gene pool of Easter Island." Being as how the island was first documented as visited by Europeans in 1722, this makes perfect sense that some sexual contact between European and South American genes and native Easter Islanders would have taken place. Again the genes were Y chromosone or Male only. As far as the sweet potato, there is continual debate about whether it could have been carried by water or seeded by birds to disperse over the S. Pac. Almost all scientists are in agreement that the bottle gourd floated to South America from Africa (it's of African origin not S. American) where it is native. If that has merit then, well Polynesia's between the two. Of course both species could have been introduced by humans. This would only prove human contact however, and not Heyerdah's bizarre ideas about the peopling of Polynesia. Regards, ST To drown sorrow, where should one jump first and best? "Certainly not water. Water rusts you." -Frank Sinatra [ Edited by: Sneakytiki 2007-04-22 05:01 ]

Kongtiki,

I just re-read that article.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1399-0039.2006.00717.x?cookieSet=1

It says the early Euro and Amerind genes are from pre-1800 only, not early as in founder or ancient contact. Here is a quote from the article.

"Most archaeological and linguistic evidence suggest a Polynesian origin of the population of Easter Island (Rapanui), and this view has been supported by the identification of Polynesian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms in prehistoric skeletal remains. However, some evidence of an early South American contact also exists (the sweet potato, bottle gourd etc.), but genetic studies have so far failed to show an early Amerindian contribution to the gene pool on Easter Island. To address this issue, we analyzed mtDNA and Y chromosome markers and performed high-resolution human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping of DNA harvested from previously collected sera of 48 reputedly nonadmixed native Easter Islanders. All individuals carried mtDNA types and HLA alleles previously found in Polynesia, and most men carried Y chromosome markers of Polynesian origin, providing further evidence of a Polynesian origin of the population of Easter Island. A few individuals carried HLA alleles and/or Y chromosome markers of European origin. More interestingly, some individuals carried the HLA alleles A0212 and B3905, which are of typical Amerindian origin. The genealogy of some of the individuals carrying these non-Polynesian HLA alleles and their haplotypic backgrounds suggest an introduction into Easter Island in the early 1800s, or earlier. Thus, there may have been an early European and Amerindian contribution to the Polynesian gene pool of Easter Island."

Being as how the island was first documented as visited by Europeans in 1722, this makes perfect sense that some sexual contact between European and South American genes and native Easter Islanders would have taken place. Again the genes were Y chromosone or Male only.

As far as the sweet potato, there is continual debate about whether it could have been carried by water or seeded by birds to disperse over the S. Pac.

Almost all scientists are in agreement that the bottle gourd floated to South America from Africa (it's of African origin not S. American) where it is native. If that has merit then, well Polynesia's between the two.

Of course both species could have been introduced by humans. This would only prove human contact however, and not Heyerdah's bizarre ideas about the peopling of Polynesia.

Regards,
ST

To drown sorrow, where should one jump first and best? "Certainly not water. Water rusts you." -Frank Sinatra

[ Edited by: Sneakytiki 2007-04-22 05:01 ]

Post #300978 by Sneakytiki on Sun, Apr 22, 2007 4:46 AM