Nu Tirani was discovered in 1250 AD

Stuff reports:

A new study has carbon-dated the arrival of Māori settlers to as early as the 13th century.

Mātauranga histories and current archaeological work are estimates only – thought to be some time between the 12th and 14th centuries.

The study, published in the journal PNAS, used updated radiocarbon technology at 436 archaeological sites in the North Island and 145 in the South.

Dr Magdalena Bunbury from Australia’s James Cook University, who led the study, said the estimated timeline of when Māori arrived in Aotearoa was initially between the 12th and 14th centuries.

“This study has narrowed that down and shown that early Māori settlement happened in the North Island between AD 1250 and AD 1275,” Bunbury said.

She said Māori reached the South Island a decade later between 1280AD and 1295AD where the population rapidly grew during a time when they hunted the flightless moa bird.

It’s incredible what you can learn from carbon dating.

So Maori have lived in the North Island for around 770 years and the South Island for around 740 years. Assuming earlier generations reproduced around age 20, then some Maori may have had 30 or so generations living here.