'Chicken and Chips' Theory of Pacific Migration

Newswise ^ | Tuesday, July 29, 2008 | University of Adelaide

[SunkenCiv]

The study questions recent claims that chickens were first introduced into South America by Polynesians, before the arrival of Spanish chickens in the 15th century following Christopher Columbus.

...the University of Adelaide's Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD) Director Professor Alan Cooper says there has been considerable debate about the existence and degree of contact between Polynesians and South Americans, with the presence of the sweet potato throughout the Pacific often used as evidence of early trading contacts...

A recent study claimed to have found the first direct evidence of a genetic link between ancient Polynesian and apparently pre-Columbian chickens from archaeological sites in Chile, supporting the idea that there was extensive contact between Polynesia and South America and that chicken and 'chips' had been traded in opposite directions.

The current work challenges this conclusion however, by generating DNA data from 41 native Chilean chicken specimens, and comparing these with over 1000 modern domestic chickens from around the world, and the previously published DNA from Polynesian and Chilean chicken bones.

The researchers did find a highly unusual DNA sequence in the ancient Easter Island chickens, which originate from Indonesia or the Philippines, but this apparently did not get passed on to South America...

According to project leader Dr Jaime Gongora from Sydney University, many people in South America like to believe they are descendants of Polynesians. "This study does not disprove this idea, but we have found no evidence to support pre-historic contact."

[SunkenCiv]

The whole thing has been a nest of problems.

[SunkenCiv]

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[Westlander]

Like I’ve been telling the wife for years-there’s a difference between a sweet potato and a yam.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Like I've been telling the wife for years-there's a difference between a sweet potato and a yam.

There is. And a sweet potato and a kumara. So far as I can tell, they are three separate things. Of the lot, I like the kumara best: very nice chopped into chips and deep-fried, served with sour cream -- great way to soak up excess beer and put on some calories for The Rugby.

[Westlander]

I’ll definitely do a taste test! Thanks.

http://www.kumara.co.nz/about.shtml

[BuffaloJack]

Geez, I hope they didn’t use my tax money to fund this piece of useless babble.

[bert]

......which originate from Indonesia or the Philippines, .....

Curiously, there currently is an export market for fighting roosters from East Tennessee breeders to the Philippines. It could very well be that the ancient chicken trade was actually fighting rooster trade.

[wildbill]

Why did the chicken cross the Pacific?

To give pre-historic humans a standard for taste comparision with snakes, turtles, frogs and armadillos and other species.

NYUK NYUK NYUK

[SunkenCiv]

Good suggestion! Even if it weren’t the primary reason, it’s hard to believe no one ever tried it before the 19th century.

[SunkenCiv]

Yeah, I was tempted to quibble about that with someone last week, but it’s like tellin’ people there was never Red Dye #2 in old-time red M&Ms.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

A recent study claimed to have found the first direct evidence...supporting the idea that...chicken and 'chips' had been traded in opposite directions.

As opposed to being traded in the same direction, of course. Your tax dollars, productively at work. Bawwwk, bawwwk. Respect the Chicken.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

The current work challenges this conclusion however, by generating DNA data from 41 native Chilean chicken specimens, and comparing these with over 1000 modern domestic chickens from around the world, and the previously published DNA from Polynesian and Chilean chicken bones.

Reverend Col. Sanders-Wright, your chickens have come home to roost... It just tears me up how these self-sacrificing, dedicated scientists do so much--of such great societal value, of course being duly compensated with taxpayer scratch. I'll have a drumstick, please.




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[WSGilcrest]

Well, this explains the evolution of Burger King's chicken-fries.

[tubebender]

Do you really have chicken legs...

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Kenny Bunk]

self-sacrificing, dedicated scientists do so much--of such great societal value,

Where the heck is Thor Heyerdahl when one needs him? I suggest that these dedicated men and women be put on a huge balsa raft in Tahiti, with chickens and sweet potatoes.

Then, an equally dedicated group of freepers, under my direction, follow them at a discrete distance of course, in large sailing yachts for a couple of years. All to be funded by $100 Million Dollar Grant from the Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Foundation.

We'll get to the bottom of this Chilean Chicken Business, or at least to the bottom of some very nice Chilean Chardonnays, which I am told go well with chicken. But of course that is the subject of another study, which will require further funding, of course.

[Bigg Red]

Don’t let it put you in a fowl mood....

[SunkenCiv]

Polynesians Beat Columbus To The Americas
New Scientist | 6-4-2007 | Emma Young
Posted on 06/04/2007 5:58:20 PM PDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1844873/posts

First Chickens in Americas Were Brought From Polynesia (came before Columbus)
NYT | 06/05/07 | John Noble Wilford
Posted on 06/04/2007 6:55:26 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1844910/posts

Chicken bones show Polynesians went to Chile (Told ya so!)
Reuters | 5 June 2007 | Maggie Fox
Posted on 06/05/2007 5:31:36 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1845088/posts

2007 - Year Of The Lapita? (Polynesian Breakthroughs)
Archaeology Magazine | January/Febuary 2008 | Mark Rose
Posted on 12/13/2007 1:03:09 PM PST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1939091/posts

-sidebars-

The Lowly Sweet Potato May Unlock America’s Past
The Times Online | 3-24-2008 | Norman Hammond
Posted on 03/24/2008 2:24:47 PM PDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1990886/posts

Indian DNA Links To 6 ‘Founding Mothers’
Yahoo News/AP | 3-13-2008 | Malcom Ritter
Posted on 03/13/2008 2:04:39 PM PDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1985244/posts

Field Museum Scientists Solve Riddle Of Mysterious Faces On South Pacific Artifacts
Eureka Alert | 12-12-2006
Posted on 12/13/2006 3:34:03 PM PST by blam
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1753102/posts

Erectus Ahoy (Stone Age Voyages)
Science News | 10-22-2003 | Bruce Bower
Posted on 10/22/2003 12:28:49 PM PDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1006058/posts

[SunkenCiv]

-just a few more-

Did ancient Polynesians visit California?
Maybe so. Scholars revive idea using linguistic ties...
San Francisco Chronicle | June 20, 2005 | Keay Davidson
Posted on 06/25/2005 11:35:01 PM PDT by nickcarraway
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1430833/posts

Gene study suggests Polynesians came from Taiwan
Reuters | Mon Jul 4, 2005 | Anon
Posted on 07/05/2005 6:34:19 AM PDT by Pharmboy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1436791/posts

Drifters Could Explain Sweet-Potato Travel
Nature | 5-18-2007
Posted on 05/20/2007 4:28:04 PM PDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1836889/posts