Final answer:
The Lapita people's skills in sea travel, navigation, and lithic reduction enabled them to migrate across Oceania. Their trade networks, which were intricately linked with their desire for jewelry and ornaments, played a key role in their expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of the Lapita people, also known as the lapidary people in this context, greatly facilitated their migration through Oceania. This coastal migration theory is strongly supported by the rich marine environment which would have been beneficial for these maritime peoples. Their knowledge of sea travel, navigation skills, and the use of natural resources such as making maps for sailing across large open seas were integral to their movement across the islands. Moreover, the Lapita were known for their lithic reduction skills, which is the process of making stone tools, an essential technology for their survival and expansion.
Trade played a significant role in the spread of the Lapita culture, much like it has shaped human societies throughout history. The Lapita people valued jewelry and other adornments, products that were used to facilitate trade between different groups. The demand for exotic and preferable materials bolstered trade and reinforced social hierarchies within their societies.
Polynesian culture, which branched from the Lapita, is a direct example of how island resources and adaptations to the environment underpin cultural identity. Their innovative approaches to life in a maritime environment and their artistic and linguistic diversity showcase the impact of the Lapita and their descendants on island migration and culture in Oceania.