[Theoria]

'“The small number of Indonesian women is consistent with a single boatload of voyagers,” Cox said, adding that “typical Indonesian trading ships in the mid first millennium A.D. could hold around 500 people. “

The distance between Indonesia and Madagascar is close to 5000 miles, so the women and their travel mates must have had quite a journey, especially if it was unintended.'

[Theoria]

Travel, dna, ping

[Revolting cat!]

Babes of Madagascar!

[Revolting cat!]

How d'ya like the headwear fashion there?

[MotorCityBuck]

...who may have sailed off course. Women drivers! :)

[Harpo Speaks]

“Three men and one woman are trapped on an island. Send help immediately. If you can’t send help, send two more women.

[Tainan]

I think there was some sperm involved in this somewhere...(shrug)

[Tainan]

DNA stuff ping

[arthurus]

The study only traces through the females. 30 women did not found the Madagascar population. The genetic line traces back to thirty women who were among the group of founders who did not necessarily even arrive all at the same time.

[Interesting Times]

So... these 30 or so women “founded and settled” the island, rather than the men who tagged along behind them.

Amazing stuff, mitochondrial DNA. It apparently turns scientists into Womyn’s Studies professors.

[Condor51]

Madagascar was first settled and founded by approximately 30 women, ..... who may have sailed off course in a wayward vessel 1200 years ago.

No, no, no. They weren't 'off course' they went there on purpose.

One day a ship with two women on it where sailing by and told the Captain they had to go to the bathroom.
The Captain said fine, here's two buckets, go on the Poop Deck.
The women replied hell no, there's an island stop there so we can get some privacy in the bushes.
The Captain was now really ticked but stopped to end all the nagging.
And women being women, when they did get to the island and finished their business - refused to leave.

And thus, Madagascar was first settled.
(Honest. I saw it on the Internet)

[norwaypinesavage]

"Scientists assume some men were with the women."

Wow! Some of these scientists must be quite brilliant. I wonder if the Global Warming scientists could recruit some of these.