Rapa Nui people did not destroy their island
A study of ancient genomes has dispelled the theory that early inhabitants of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, ravaged its ecosystem and caused the population to crash. The study analysed the Rapanui peoples’ genetics and found no sign of a population problem that could indicate a collapse. “This study, done with the endorsement of and input from officials and Indigenous community members, SERVES as the final nail in the coffin,” researchers said.
The population of a famous Pacific island is not real
A study by researchers in New Zealand has revealed that a group of Polynesians settled Rapa Nui around 1,200 years ago and had contact with Indigenous Americans. They also found that their DNA is “genetically different” compared to modern Polynesians. Their genomes suggest that Rapa Nui may have been isolated from other Polynesian landmasses as far back as 12 million years ago.