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A newly published research paper suggests indigenous peoples reached Antarctic waters, and perhaps viewed Antarctica itself, before the European explorations in the early 19th century.
PUBLISHED PAPER:
Priscilla M. Wehi, Nigel J. Scott, Jacinta Beckwith, Rata Pryor Rodgers, Tasman Gillies, Vincent Van Uitregt & Krushil Watene (2021)
A short scan of Māori journeys to Antarctica
Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand
DOI: 10.1080/03036758.2021.1917633
FULL STORY: https://www.sciencealert.com/who-we...p-maori-s-long-history-with-the-icy-continentNew Research Shows Māori Traveled to Antarctica at Least 1,000 Years Before Europeans
... The first confirmed sighting of mainland Antarctica was attributed to a Russian expedition in 1820, while the first landing on the mainland is attributed to an American explorer in 1821.
Now, a new paper by New Zealander researchers suggests that the indigenous people of mainland New Zealand - Māori - have a significantly longer history with Earth's southernmost continent.
The research team, led by conservation biologist Priscilla Wehi from Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, looked at oral histories as well as 'grey literature' – meaning research, reports, technical documents and other material published by organizations outside common academic or commercial publishing channels.
"We found connection to Antarctica and its waters have been occurring since the earliest traditional voyaging ..." said Wehi.
The researchers first highlight an early 7th century southern voyage by a Polynesian chief Hui Te Rangiora and his crew. This would have likely made them the first humans to see Antarctic waters, over a thousand years before the Russian expedition and even long before Polynesian settlers' planned migration to New Zealand. ...
PUBLISHED PAPER:
Priscilla M. Wehi, Nigel J. Scott, Jacinta Beckwith, Rata Pryor Rodgers, Tasman Gillies, Vincent Van Uitregt & Krushil Watene (2021)
A short scan of Māori journeys to Antarctica
Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand
DOI: 10.1080/03036758.2021.1917633