Ancient voyaging and Polynesian origins

Journal article

The "Polynesian motif" defines a lineage of human mtDNA that is restricted to Austronesian-speaking populations and is almost fixed in Polynesians. It is widely thought to support a rapid dispersal of maternal lineages from Taiwan ~ 4000 years ago (4 ka), but the chronological resolution of existing control-region data is poor, and an East Indonesian origin has also been proposed. By analyzing 157 complete mtDNA genomes, we show that the motif itself most likely originated > 6 ka in the vicinity of the Bismarck Archipelago, and its immediate ancestor is > 8 ka old and virtually restricted to Near Oceania. This indicates that Polynesian maternal lineages, from Island SouthWest Asia gained a foothold in Near Oceania much earlier than dispersal from either Taiwan or Indonesia 3-4 ka would predict. However, we find evidence in minor lineages for more recent two-way maternal gene flow between Island Southeast Asia and Near Oceania, likely reflecting movements along a "voyaging corridor" between them, as previously proposed on archaeological grounds. Small-scale mid-Holocene movements from Island Southeast Asia likely transmitted Austronesian languages to the long-established Southeast Asian colonies in the Bismarcks carrying the Polynesian motif, perhaps also providing the impetus for the expansion into Polynesia.

Authors: Soares, P; Rito, T; Trejaut, J; Mormina, M; Hill, C

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: American Journal of Human Genetics
• Volume: 88
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 239-247
• Publication date: 2011-02-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.01.009
• ISSN: 0002-9297
• Language: English
• Keywords: Polynesian motif; Polynesia
• Subjects: Anthropology; Biology; Linguistics; Genetics (medical sciences)