Temporal trends in the Colonisation of the Pacific: Palaeodemographic Insights

Abstract The colonisation of eastern parts the Pacific Islands was last phase in preindustrial expansion human species. Given scale and challenges endeavour it is unsurprising that scholars have long been interested understanding conditions drove supported exploration settlement this vast region. There has speculation as to influence demographic factors, either drivers or some way regulating rate success expansion, but testing proven challenging. This study evaluates two hypotheses population dynamics: adaptation/resilience hypothesis, which proposes populations respond localised environmental changes subsistence strategy, technology, differences pathogen loads, other events occur at different times places; temporal major such climate change a region an absolute point in, over period of, time (noting are not mutually exclusive). Applying new methods for estimating natural increase from skeletal remains, utilised 23 samples evaluate trends following into results indicate trend growth colonisation, with initially high growth, followed by significant decrease subsequently rates. lack may represent degree heterogeneity impacts on individual archipelagos islands.