How did Oceanic peoples and Polynesians navigate across the Pacific ocean?

They had no maps, no sextants, no compasses, and they navigated by observing the ocean and sky, reading the stars and swells. The paths of stars and rhythms of the ocean guided them by night and the color of sky and the sun, the shapes of clouds, and the direction from which the swells were coming, guided them by day.

How did the Polynesians travel from island to island?

Polynesians made contact with nearly every island within the vast Polynesian Triangle, using outrigger canoes or double-hulled canoes. The space between the paralleled canoes allowed for storage of food, hunting materials, and nets when embarking on long voyages.

How did the Polynesians navigate around the world?

When sailing out on the open seas in their dugout voyaging canoes, Polynesians would navigate by using the stars and all of the elements around them. In addition to following the path of the stars, navigators would use the currents and wave patterns to determine their direction and heading.

How did humans get to Pacific islands?

HISTORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. Probably at first more by accident than design, the islands of the south Pacific are reached by people sailing or drifting from southeast Asia. The earliest surviving trace of human occupation in these islands is about 420 BC in Tonga and 200 BC in Samoa.

How did Polynesian wayfinders navigate the Pacific Ocean?

The early Polynesian voyagers were some of the best wayfinders in history (Fig. 8.3). They were able to find their way across vast reaches of the Pacific ocean basin navigating by the sun, stars, and other natural cues.

How did humans get to Polynesia?

Evidence from mud, charcoal, and feces suggests humans arrived in East Polynesia during the driest period in 2 millennia.

How did humans migrate to islands?

Most islands were discovered by fishermen blown far out to sea for days and weeks but managed to sail home. They had memorized the star pattern at dusk ( depending on the season ) for both the discovered island and their home island as well as ocean currents and wind patterns.

How did Polynesians make boats?

Samoa and Tonga is where the distinctive Polynesian culture developed. Polynesians traveled on double-hull canoes connected by two crossbeams with a central platform that laid over them. The triangular sails were made out of specialized woven mats (see this blog for more information: Ancient Art of Tonga).