WELLINGTON — Polynesian seafarers likely reached Antarctica hundreds of years before the Western explorers usually credited with discovering the frozen continent, a new study has concluded.
New Zealand researchers scoured so-called “grey literature” — including oral records, historic indigenous artworks and non-academic sources — looking for links between Maori people and Antarctica.
“When you put it together, it’s really clear, there’s a very long history of connection to Antarctica,” said project leader Priscilla Wehi from New Zealand’s government research institute Manaaki Whenua.
“We found connection to Antarctica and its waters (has) been occurring since th…
Keep on reading: Pacific islanders likely found Antarctica first–study