Interestingly, a recent publication described finding the Polynesian
motif in mtDNA of nineteenth century skeletal remains from
the Botocudo Indians of Brazil (Gonçalves et al., 2013). Unfortunately,
the researchers did not initially sequence the entire mtDNA
genome or the necessary SNPs to identify the Madagascar specific
haplogroup that also contains the Polynesian motif (Razafindrazaka
et al., 2010). If Gonçalves et al. (2013) had those data they could
have confirmed what they rightly suggest is a likely explanation:
that rather than Polynesians being present in Brazil, the remains
represent individuals who were the descendants of Malagasy slaves
who were brought to Brazil in the nineteenth century and who
were known to have worked with the Botocudo on plantations
(Razafindrazaka et al., 2010). This study, once again, highlights the
importance of obtaining complete mitochondrial genome sequences
from Pacific populations if we are going to understand and
reconstruct population origins and interactions.