Indigenous Maori People Rapidly Adapted During Swift Climate Transformations

In a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal PNAS in 2022, researchers have provided a more precise timeline for the arrival and settlement of the Maori in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The research, led by Magdalena Bunbury from James Cook University and Dr Fiona Petchey from the Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory at Te Aka Mātuatua - School of Science, University of Waikato, has shed light on the complexities of ancestral Maori society.

The study combined terrestrial and marine radiocarbon data sets, resulting in a radiocarbon data set of over 2,250 dates - the largest from any island context. This extensive data set allowed the researchers to refine 'wiggles' in the data, leading to more precise timelines of early settlement events.

The research traces the first 250 years of Maori settlement, including changes in resource availability and population growth. Initially, people settled in the North Island first, between 1250 and 1270. After this, the population shifted back to the north and grew between 1350 and 1450.

At the time of settlement, the south had colonies of the large flightless moa. However, after 1350, conditions became significantly colder in the south, making moa hunting uneconomic and putting communities under pressure. This shift led to the extinction of the moa bird, which was hunted to extinction shortly after human arrival around the late 13th century.

The development of a regional marine calibration curve doubled the number of dates available for analysis in the current study. Problematic dates were removed before modeling, leaving approximately 1,550 reliable dates. The new approach to modelling enabled the drawing of links between the number and distribution of archaeological sites, climate, resources, and deforestation trends.

The research provides a time baseline for understanding the complexity of ancestral Maori society and shows that Maori adapted quickly to their new environment and again during later periods when temperature and rainfall changed significantly. Future work aims to achieve the precision needed to establish more links between people, climate, and time.

The article was originally published in The Conversation in 2022, offering the general public a chance to delve into this fascinating aspect of New Zealand's history. The study not only provides a more precise timeline for arrival and settlement but also offers a glimpse into the resilience and adaptability of the early Maori settlers.