45-Hour Canoe Voyage Tests Ancient Migration Theory
▼ Summary
– Japanese researchers built a Paleolithic-era dugout canoe to cross between Taiwan and Yonaguni Island, testing early human seafaring capabilities.
– The team published two papers in *Science Advances*, detailing the experimental voyage and numerical simulations of the crossing conditions.
– The successful voyage suggests Paleolithic humans had advanced strategic seafaring knowledge, explaining 30,000-year-old archaeological evidence of crossings.
– Researchers used experimental archaeology to answer questions about Paleolithic migration, inspired by Thor Heyerdahl’s *Kon-Tiki* expedition.
– Initial tests with reed-bundle and bamboo rafts failed, leading the team to opt for a faster, more durable boat for the open-sea crossing.
A daring 45-hour canoe voyage across treacherous ocean currents has provided new insights into how ancient humans might have migrated between islands tens of thousands of years ago. Japanese researchers recently completed this experimental journey using only Paleolithic-era tools, shedding light on the remarkable seafaring capabilities of early modern humans.
The team built a traditional dugout canoe with stone axes and other primitive implements, then navigated from Taiwan to Yonaguni Island, a route dominated by the powerful Kuroshio Current. Their findings, published in Science Advances, suggest that prehistoric people possessed advanced maritime skills long before the advent of modern navigation technology.
One study details the physical challenges of the voyage, while another uses computer simulations to analyze the conditions required for such a crossing. Together, they provide compelling evidence that Paleolithic humans could have intentionally traveled vast distances by sea, explaining archaeological discoveries on remote islands like Okinawa.
“We wanted to understand how early humans reached these isolated locations,” explained Yousuke Kaifu, a researcher at the University of Tokyo and co-author of the study. “Artifacts alone don’t tell the whole story, so we turned to experimental archaeology, testing theories by recreating ancient voyages.”
The project, which began in 2013, initially explored reed and bamboo rafts as possible vessels. However, these proved unstable in open water, prompting the team to opt for a sturdier dugout canoe instead. After years of preparation, the final 45-hour journey demonstrated that even with primitive tools, skilled navigators could conquer one of the ocean’s strongest currents.
This groundbreaking experiment not only supports theories about early human migration but also highlights the ingenuity and resilience of our ancestors. By combining hands-on testing with modern simulations, researchers are piecing together a clearer picture of how ancient explorers ventured into the unknown.
(Source: Ars Technica)
