A team of archaeologists led by Professor Ian Barber of the University of Otago discovered ancient sweet potato lumps at Triangle Flat in New Zealand and carbon dated them to 1290 AD. to. – a century earlier than previously thought. This timing coincides with the first waves of Polynesian migration to the southernmost islands; This suggests that sweet potatoes were one of the first crops grown by these early settlers.
The crop’s hardiness and rapid growth made it an ideal food source for Polynesians braving the challenges of cold climates in new regions. Barber believes the “reliable nature” of the sweet potato may have encouraged early settlers to cross the cold waters to settle on the islands, as it provided a reliable source of income.
Source: Ferra
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