The Polynesian Triangle is generally defined by the apices of Hawai’i, Rapa Nui and Aotearoa/New Zealand. Evidence is accumulating, however, which indicates that Polynesians continued voyaging eastwards and made multiple contacts with the Americas. Dr. Matisoo-Smith's talk focused on the latest archaeological, cultural, and biological and genetic data indicating the likely timing and location of Polynesian contacts in the Americas.

Dr. Matisoo-Smith is a Professor of Biological Anthropology at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. Her research focuses on the biological evidence for better understanding the prehistory of the Pacific.