Easter IslandEaster Island: : Multiple LessonsMultiple Lessons

““Environmental Suicide” Environmental Suicide” (Diamond) or something else?(Diamond) or something else?

Easter Island was annexed by Chile in 1888. It lies 3510 km west of the Chilean mainland.

Very Isolated

Easter Day in 1722 Easter Day in 1722

Imagine what the first Dutch explorers Imagine what the first Dutch explorers

thought when they first accidentally thought when they first accidentally

sailed to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) sailed to Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

and saw the statues.and saw the statues.

StatisticsStatistics Rapa Nui (Easter Island)is 5 hours (3600 Rapa Nui (Easter Island)is 5 hours (3600

km) by jet airplane from Chile (2000km km) by jet airplane from Chile (2000km from the closest inhabited island). from the closest inhabited island).

The island is triangular and about 20 The island is triangular and about 20 kilometers long. (27°S)kilometers long. (27°S)

Some statues weigh over 100 tons (the Some statues weigh over 100 tons (the largest were close to 10 meters high).largest were close to 10 meters high).

Hundreds (887) of statues all around the Hundreds (887) of statues all around the island.island.

How did it fall apart?How did it fall apart? There is clear evidence that Easter Island There is clear evidence that Easter Island

once was a heavily populated (perhaps 20,000 once was a heavily populated (perhaps 20,000 people) and rich society. people) and rich society.

In 1772 the population was estimated at 2500In 1772 the population was estimated at 2500

There is clear evidence that this big There is clear evidence that this big population collapsed and most of the population collapsed and most of the population died.population died.

Collapse triggers? Natural or Culturally Collapse triggers? Natural or Culturally induced? induced?

Collapse Generic StoryCollapse Generic Story Natives came originally from Polynesia Natives came originally from Polynesia

-probably accidentally found Rapa Nui -probably accidentally found Rapa Nui (Easter Island) while they were lost.(Easter Island) while they were lost.

Statues were built by natives cut from Statues were built by natives cut from soft volcanic stone on the island.soft volcanic stone on the island.

Society collapsed Society collapsed beforebefore the Europeans the Europeans arrived caused by overpopulation and arrived caused by overpopulation and poor use of resourcespoor use of resources

GeographyGeographyRoughly triangular in shape with complex topography (locally isolated valleys) and has 3 major volcanoes.

Settlement of the Pacific Settlement of the Pacific IslandsIslands

600 A.D.800 A.D. 900 A.D.

1200 A.D.

The Pacific Islands were settled from the northwest, probably from Asia and Melanesia, in a series of waves in westerly, then northerly (Hawaii) and southerly (New Zealand) directions

1000 B.C. 600 A.D.

500 B.C.

But maybe 400 AD

and this is crucial to

collapse

interpretation

MoaiMoai Easter Island has Easter Island has

hundreds of large hundreds of large stone statues (moai).stone statues (moai). 13-32 feet tall13-32 feet tall 10-87 tons in weight10-87 tons in weight

Thriving PopulationThriving Population

Evidence suggests that Easter Island Evidence suggests that Easter Island had a had a largelarge and rich thriving society. and rich thriving society. Many house foundations Many house foundations (enough for 20-30K (enough for 20-30K

people)people)

Agricultural Intensification Agricultural Intensification (large composting (large composting pits, water dams, stone chicken houses, stone windbreaks) pits, water dams, stone chicken houses, stone windbreaks) suggests a lot of food was needed and grown.suggests a lot of food was needed and grown.

Society was broken into Society was broken into

11-12 territories or clans 11-12 territories or clans ((requires a critical mass populationrequires a critical mass population

For such fragmentation. For such fragmentation.

~800 people per square mile.~800 people per square mile.

No CollapseNo CollapseRapa Nui (Easter Island) must have Rapa Nui (Easter Island) must have seemed like paradise to the first seemed like paradise to the first natives of perhaps 100 people.natives of perhaps 100 people.ForestsForestsSeafoodSeafoodPlenty of space Plenty of space

Clues to DeteriorationClues to Deterioration

Pollen in soil samples can show how plant life Pollen in soil samples can show how plant life

changes over time.changes over time.

Bones of animals show that less and less fish was Bones of animals show that less and less fish was

eaten as time advanced.eaten as time advanced.

Bones of humans show evidence of cannibalism.Bones of humans show evidence of cannibalism.

A statue based economyA statue based economy

Constructed in 3 waves 1100 A.D. Constructed in 3 waves 1100 A.D. Statues grew larger and more Statues grew larger and more

elaborate as time went by elaborate as time went by some kind some kind of clan one ups-manship of clan one ups-manship fairly weird fairly weird

Economy centered around statue Economy centered around statue buildingbuilding Many roadsMany roads Clan based niches in statue productionClan based niches in statue production Food production concentrated to free up Food production concentrated to free up

labor for statue constructionlabor for statue construction

Why so zealous?Why so zealous? The stone on Easter Island is the best carving The stone on Easter Island is the best carving

stone in the Pacificstone in the Pacific Society was isolated, so the energy expended in Society was isolated, so the energy expended in

other Pacific societies (trading, raiding, other Pacific societies (trading, raiding, exploration, and colonization) was directed exploration, and colonization) was directed inwardinward

Chiefs got stature not by inter-island interaction Chiefs got stature not by inter-island interaction but by competing for status by a game of statue but by competing for status by a game of statue one-upman-shipone-upman-ship Later ones had a pukao, or large stone “hat”Later ones had a pukao, or large stone “hat”

Clan based society, let each clan “specialize” so Clan based society, let each clan “specialize” so while each group had a monopoly on some item, while each group had a monopoly on some item, trade between groups was the norm.trade between groups was the norm.

Statue PhysicsStatue Physics

All these methods require the use of Logs

How were they raised?How were they raised?

1. Transport, Raising, and Food Production issues suggest that many trees were cut down to provide for statue production and to clear land for food production.

2. When discovered in the early 1800’s there were no trees on Easter Island

3. Did Deforestation lead to the collapse?

An Abrupt endAn Abrupt end Statue building, and the complex Easter Statue building, and the complex Easter

Island society ended abruptly about 1600 Island society ended abruptly about 1600 A.D.A.D. Incomplete statues still embedded in quarryIncomplete statues still embedded in quarry

Total number of moai on Easter Island: 887Total number of moai on Easter Island: 887 Total number of maoi that were successfully transported Total number of maoi that were successfully transported

to their final ahu locations: 288 (32% of 887)to their final ahu locations: 288 (32% of 887) Total number of moai still in the Rano Raraku quarry: Total number of moai still in the Rano Raraku quarry:

397 (45%)397 (45%) Total number of moai lying 'in transit' outside of the Total number of moai lying 'in transit' outside of the

Rano Raraku quarry: 92 (10%) Rano Raraku quarry: 92 (10%) Stone carving tools left to lieStone carving tools left to lie Chicken houses abandondedChicken houses abandonded Roads left in disrepairRoads left in disrepair

What happened?What happened?

Collapse Standard ScenarioCollapse Standard Scenario Forests GoneForests Gone

No trees on island when discovered by EuropeansNo trees on island when discovered by Europeans Pollen analysis shows that indigenous palm trees were grown in the Pollen analysis shows that indigenous palm trees were grown in the

time of early settlerstime of early settlers large areas given over to food production (upland farms)large areas given over to food production (upland farms)

Food supply limitedFood supply limited upland farms abandonedupland farms abandoned analysis shows large game birds disappearedanalysis shows large game birds disappeared Large fish and seal bones also disappeared (no trees, no canoes, no Large fish and seal bones also disappeared (no trees, no canoes, no

deep water fishing)deep water fishing) Fuel supply limitedFuel supply limited

carbon tested early fires were trees, later fires were grassescarbon tested early fires were trees, later fires were grasses ErosionErosion

soil eroded from base of statues, soil eroded from base of statues, UnrestUnrest

In the last days statues of rival clans were torn downIn the last days statues of rival clans were torn down

Reasons for collapseReasons for collapse

Cults formed and statues were built to worship the cults.Cults formed and statues were built to worship the cults.

Many trees were cut down in order to move the statues (log rolling – Many trees were cut down in order to move the statues (log rolling –

compare to Stonehenge)compare to Stonehenge)

Rats ate the seeds leaving the island without treesRats ate the seeds leaving the island without trees

Boats slowly disappeared so people could no longer fish.Boats slowly disappeared so people could no longer fish.

The soil washed into the sea (tropical thunderstorms) because The soil washed into the sea (tropical thunderstorms) because

there were no trees there were no trees no means to farm. no means to farm.