| [00:00.650] |
Only very recently has their language been traced back to Taiwan, |
| [00:04.720] |
and their pottery to the Philippines |
| [00:07.400] |
Combined with DNA analysis, |
| [00:09.400] |
evidence now points to the Lapita, a seafaring people from Southeast Asia |
| [00:14.410] |
Back in the Solomons, on the tiny island of Taumako, |
| [00:18.200] |
descendants of the Lapita still build and sail traditional voyaging canoes |
| [00:22.510] |
These canoes may look basic, |
| [00:25.400] |
but their relative sophistication enabled the Lapita to travel further into |
| [00:29.200] |
the Pacific than anyone had ever dared before |
| [00:32.520] |
They were nolonger reliant on paddles alone - they had wind power |
| [00:37.980] |
Sails, perhaps similar to this crab-claw design, |
| [00:41.370] |
enabled the Lapita to cover huge distances |
| [00:44.640] |
But with heavy sails, |
| [00:46.310] |
the canoes needed extra stability |
| [00:48.660] |
The Lapita added a second hull |
| [00:50.990] |
and the long-distance outrigger canoe was finally born |
