Micronesia

An ethnographic and geographic region comprising the Palau, Marianas, Guam, Nauru, Caroline and Marshall Islands, and Kiribati. The Palaus and Marianas were probably settled from the Philippines after 2000 BC and each has a ceramic sequence throughout prehistory. The eastern groups, mainly atolls, were settled later, perhaps from a Lapita source in Melanesia, and pottery production died out after initial settlement (as in Polynesia). Physically and linguistically, the Micronesians are close cousins to the Polynesians though their Polynesian ancestors appear to have moved through Melanesia rather than Micronesia.

An ethnographic region comprising the Palau, Marianas, Caroline and Marshall Islands, and Kiribati [Gilbert Islands]. The Palaus and Marianas were probably settled from the Philippines after 2000 BC and each has a ceramic sequence throughout prehistory. The eastern groups, mainly atolls, were settled later, perhaps from a Lapita source in Melanesia, and pottery production died out after initial settlement (as in Polynesia). Physically and linguistically, the Micronesians are close cousins to the Polynesians, although immediate origins are different: Polynesian ancestors appear to have moved through Melanesia rather than Micronesia. See also Marianas, Nan Madol, Palau, Yap.