<p>Polynesian seafarers likely reached Antarctica hundreds of years before the Western explorers usually credited with discovering the frozen continent, a new study has concluded.</p>.<p>New Zealand researchers scoured so-called "grey literature" -- including oral records, historic indigenous artworks and non-academic sources -- looking for links between Maori people and Antarctica.</p>.<p>"When you put it together, it's really clear, there's a very long history of connection to Antarctica," said project leader Priscilla Wehi from New Zealand's government research institute Manaaki Whenua.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/arctic-micro-animal-survives-24000-years-in-siberian-permafrost-994944.html" target="_blank">Arctic micro-animal survives 24,000 years in Siberian permafrost </a></strong></p>.<p>"We found connection to Antarctica and its waters (has) been occurring since the earliest traditional voyaging, and later through participation in European-led voyaging and exploration, contemporary scientific research, fishing, and more, for centuries."</p>.<p>Polynesian seafarers are widely regarded as some of history's greatest sailors, navigating vast distances between Pacific islands with pin-point precision on their double-hulled waka, or canoes.</p>.<p>The research, published last week in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, found they reached Antarctica long before the first Westerners in the 1820s.</p>.<p>The researchers believe the first voyage to Antarctica waters even pre-dates Maori arrival in New Zealand in the 14th century.</p>.<p>"We find Polynesian narratives of voyaging between the islands include voyaging into Antarctic waters by Hui Te Rangiora and his crew on the vessel Te Ivi O Atea, likely in the early seventh century," Wehi said.</p>.<p>"These navigational accomplishments are widely acknowledged."</p>.<p>Oral histories of the voyage include reference to "a foggy, misty and dark place not seen by the sun" and iceberg-like summits "piercing the sky with no vegetation".</p>.<p>The study said that Maori carving and weaving also supported accounts of early Antarctic exploration.</p>.<p>Wehi said collating traditional Maori accounts helped give a broader view of Antarctic history, beyond the accounts of European male explorers that usually predominate.</p>.<p>"History tends to be told by one voice and there's often a dominant narrative," she told the New Zealand Herald.</p>.<p>"Often indigenous history and even women's history becomes invisible, so for me it's about making that history visible."</p>
<p>Polynesian seafarers likely reached Antarctica hundreds of years before the Western explorers usually credited with discovering the frozen continent, a new study has concluded.</p>.<p>New Zealand researchers scoured so-called "grey literature" -- including oral records, historic indigenous artworks and non-academic sources -- looking for links between Maori people and Antarctica.</p>.<p>"When you put it together, it's really clear, there's a very long history of connection to Antarctica," said project leader Priscilla Wehi from New Zealand's government research institute Manaaki Whenua.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/arctic-micro-animal-survives-24000-years-in-siberian-permafrost-994944.html" target="_blank">Arctic micro-animal survives 24,000 years in Siberian permafrost </a></strong></p>.<p>"We found connection to Antarctica and its waters (has) been occurring since the earliest traditional voyaging, and later through participation in European-led voyaging and exploration, contemporary scientific research, fishing, and more, for centuries."</p>.<p>Polynesian seafarers are widely regarded as some of history's greatest sailors, navigating vast distances between Pacific islands with pin-point precision on their double-hulled waka, or canoes.</p>.<p>The research, published last week in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, found they reached Antarctica long before the first Westerners in the 1820s.</p>.<p>The researchers believe the first voyage to Antarctica waters even pre-dates Maori arrival in New Zealand in the 14th century.</p>.<p>"We find Polynesian narratives of voyaging between the islands include voyaging into Antarctic waters by Hui Te Rangiora and his crew on the vessel Te Ivi O Atea, likely in the early seventh century," Wehi said.</p>.<p>"These navigational accomplishments are widely acknowledged."</p>.<p>Oral histories of the voyage include reference to "a foggy, misty and dark place not seen by the sun" and iceberg-like summits "piercing the sky with no vegetation".</p>.<p>The study said that Maori carving and weaving also supported accounts of early Antarctic exploration.</p>.<p>Wehi said collating traditional Maori accounts helped give a broader view of Antarctic history, beyond the accounts of European male explorers that usually predominate.</p>.<p>"History tends to be told by one voice and there's often a dominant narrative," she told the New Zealand Herald.</p>.<p>"Often indigenous history and even women's history becomes invisible, so for me it's about making that history visible."</p>