Scientists have finally uncovered the truth about Easter Island, a remote piece of volcanic soil in the Pacific Ocean. The island is home to 887 huge stone statues, called Moai, which were carved between the 13th and 15th centuries. The statues are 3 to 33 feet tall and weigh up to 90 US tons. Research has revealed that the statues were not created by aliens, but by the Rapa Nui people who inhabited the island.
The statues were carved from compressed volcanic ash, and most of them face inland, with their backs to the ocean. One unique statue, Tukuturi, was found in a kneeling position and is believed to depict an ancient singer.
Scientists have also discovered how the Rapa Nui people moved the statues, using ropes and a walking motion. A new study has revealed that the island's population was much larger than previously thought, with up to 17,500 people living on the island at its peak.
The population decline was not due to ecocide, as previously believed, but rather to European raids, diseases, and enforced migration. The Rapa Nui people were skilled agricultural engineers who fertilized their fields with volcanic rock, allowing them to sustain a large population.
The mystery of Easter Island has finally been unraveled, revealing the ingenuity and creativity of the Rapa Nui people who created the iconic Moai statues.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Easter Island is the territory of Chile and is situated in the southern Pacific Ocean.
2. It lies 1,200 miles away from Pitcairn, its closest neighbor, and 2,300 miles away from Chile.
3. The only way to get to Easter Island is by plane, which takes five hours from Santiago, Chile.
4. The area of the island is 63 square miles.
5. There are 887 huge stone statues on the island.
6. The statues are called Moai and were carved between the 13th and 15th centuries.
7. The Moai statues have distinct facial features, including long noses, wide chins, rectangular ears, heavy brows, and deeply set eyes.
8. Most of the statues (834 out of 887) were carved from compressed volcanic ash, also known as tuff.
9. All the statues, except one group, face inland, with their backs to the ocean.
10. The statues were likely created to protect the villagers and overlook the settlement.
11. One statue, called Tukuturi, is unique in that it is the only one found in a kneeling position and is made of red punapua stone.
12. The heads of the statues make up about 3/8 of each statue's size.
13. The arms of the statues were carved against the bodies, resting in different positions.
14. The statues were not created by aliens, but by the Rapa Nui people, who used local materials.
15. A study found that the Rapa Nui people could have used ropes and a walking motion to move the statues.
16. The maximum number of inhabitants on the island during its heyday was estimated to be around 17,500 people.
17. The islanders consumed sweet potatoes and seafood as their main sources of food.
18. The decrease in population on the island was not due to ecocide, but rather due to European raids, diseases, and enforced migration.
19. The Rapa Nui people were skilled agricultural engineers and deliberately fertilized their fields with volcanic rock.