Is it possible for the Polynesians to have reached South America?

Answer 1

Well a definitive answer is not possible because there simply is not enough date to rely on, but we DO know that in 1947 Thor Heyerdahl built a raft "Kon Tiki" and made the voyage using ONLY items the ancient Polynesians had at their disposal. So while it cannot be stated that they actually DID make the journey, there is little doubt that they COULD have made the journey.

Later he also built two more vessels "RA" and RA II" and duplicated similar feats.

Answer 2

Well, it's easy for Polynesians to reach South America now!

However, if you mean before the modern age, say, prior to the middle ages, it's improbable.

Thor Heyerdahl (Kon Tiki, Ra, etc.) proved it was possible for South Americans to reach Indonesia, Asia and Australia...it's coming back that causes problems. Even the Spanish couldn't sail back to South America for a long time.

Anyone who's sailed from Los Angeles to San Diego, should understand. You can set a direct line course from the Palos Verdes peninsula to the end of Point Loma and away you go....but coming back, you have to sail out to Santa Catalina island. The reason is you are fighting against the prevailing winds and currents going the other way, so you have to go far to the west, even beating upwind the entire way!

It all comes down to winds and ocean currents. The currents the Polynesians would have needed head to Alaska, not South America. I'll attach an interesting article that touches on some of this.

Answer 3

This is borrowed from the wikipedia article on Easter Island and pretty much answers your question.

The fact that sweet potatoes, a staple of the Polynesian diet, are of South American origin indicates that there must have been some contact between the two cultures. However, given the far greater navigational skills of Polynesians, it is more likely that they reached South America (returning with the sweet potato and possibly some cultural influences) than that South Americans travelled to Easter Island but no further. Some "Polynesian-like" cultural traits, including words like toki, have been described among the Mapuche people from southern Chile.[citation needed]

Answer 4

first at all, do you know polynesia is the place in earth that is more separate from inland? i think your question mus base inthis premisa, if the human being was capable to reach such a far island, is implicit they reach south america, dont you think/?? i know this is not answering yo;ur question, but yes is really possible and we have evidences, naturals, vegetables, end even dna