Description:The most common type of Pacific Islanders who inhabit a large area from Melanesia to the Easter Island and Hawaii. Tall, with massive bodies, medium long to short skulls that are often high, brown skin, wavy black hair, and marked facial features with robust chins. The origin has been much disputed, "Out-of-India" and "Out-of-Taiwan" models have been discussed. Most likely the type results from various South (East) Asian migrations that started during the Neolithic. Has a Mediterraniform, rather long-skulled Nesiotid variety, more common in Western Polynesia and Tahiti, and a slightly more Mongolid, short-skulled Robust Polynesid variety in Eastern Polynesia (e.g. Hawaii). Among the Maori of New Zealand, a South Polynesid variety can be identified. The Fijid variety blends with Melanesids. Several Pacific Islander populations collapsed after discovery by Europeans, mostly because of diseases. Today the islands are more mixed.Names:Polynesid (Eickstedt, 1952; Vogel, 1974; Lundman, 1988 ; Knussmann, 1996), Polynesian (Deniker, 1900; Coon et al., 1950; Cheboksarov, 1951; Cole, 1965, Debets, 1974; Alexeev, 1979), Polynésienne (Montandon, 1933; Vallois, 1968), Polinesiana (Biasutti, 1967), Oceanique (Bory, 1827). |
