Final answer:
Evidence for the route from Southeast Asia to Polynesia includes archaeological sites predating North American Clovis sites, genetic studies, and theories like the coastal migration and maritime adaptation models.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evidence for Ancient Pacific Seafaring Routes
The proposition that ancient populations traveled from Southeast Asia to Polynesia encompasses multiple theories, including the idea that during lower sea levels in the ice ages, land bridges connected numerous Southeast Asian islands. However, a key focus is on coastal migration routes that ancient peoples may have used for seafaring from Asia to the Americas. Perhaps the strongest evidence supporting the coastal migration theory is the presence of early archaeological sites in South America such as Monte Verde in Chile and Taima-Taima in western Venezuela. These sites offer significant clues as they predate North American Clovis sites and suggest a much earlier presence of people in the Americas, which contradicts the Clovis-first model. Additionally, genetic studies, such as those based on mtDNA phylogenies of the Pacific rat, provide strong leads on the origins and dispersal of peoples across the Pacific.
The maritime adaptation model, often referred to in discussions about the kelp highway hypothesis, is also an integral part of this narrative. It surmises that early humans exploited the coastal ecosystems, which were rich in food resources like kelp forests, enabling them to travel significant distances by sea. Moreover, the discovery of ancient rafts and canoes dated around 15,000 years ago along the Pacific coast would revolutionize our understanding of early migration in the Americas by solidifying the coastal migration theory.