Ref ID:	19013
Ref Type:	Journal Article
Authors:	Kaifu, Yousuke Lin, Chih-hsing Goto, Akira Ikeya, Nobuyuki Yamada, Masahisa Chiang, Wei-Chuan Fujita, Masaki Hara, Koji Hawira, Toiora Huang, Kuo-en Huang, Chih-huei Kubota, Yoshimi Liu, Chiung-hsi Miura, Kumino Miyazawa, Yasumasa Monden, Osamu Muramatsu, Minoru Sung, Yunkai Suzuki, Katsuaki Tanaka, Nobuyuki Tsang, Cheng-hwa Uchida, Saki Wen, Pi-ling
Title:	Palaeolithic seafaring in East Asia: testing the bamboo raft hypothesis
Date:	2019
Source:	Antiquity
DOI:	10.15184/aqy.2019.90
Abstract:	The earliest colonisation of oceanic islands by Homo sapiens occurred ~50 000–30 000 years ago in the Western Pacific, yet how this was achieved remains a matter of debate. With a focus on East Asia, the research presented here tests the hypothesis that bamboo rafts were used for these early maritime migrations. The authors review the evidence for Palaeolithic seafaring in East Asia as the context for an experimental archaeology project to build two bamboo watercraft. Sea trials demonstrate the unsuitability of bamboo, at least in East Asia, indicating that more sophisticated and durable vessels would have been required to traverse the Kuroshio Current.
Volume:	93
Number:	372
Page Start:	1424
Page End:	1441