Carl P. Lipo

Ecological Catastrophe and Collapse: The Myth of 'Ecocide' on Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Easter Island — the name is synonymous with mystery, intrigue of archaeology, and today an ecological parable of reckless choices and ruin. The hundreds of giant statues known as moai located on a remote windswept and treeless landscape cry out for explanation of what happened there. Easter Island, or Rapa Nui as it is known to the island’s native Polynesians, has also become the “poster child” for what happens when societies squander their resources and destroy their environment. In his book Collapse, Jared Diamond describes an ecological catastrophe brought on by the island’s inhabitants that led to their own destruction. Diamond (2005) calls it “ecocide”: the choice to construct giant statues led to the island’s ecological devastation and the collapse of the ancient civilization. He and other researchers offer the ecocide story as a parable for our own potential destruction of the global environment. But is the story told for Easter’s human-induced environmental change correct, particularly what has been said about the causes and consequences? We consider new evidence from Rapa Nui in light of recent discoveries from the Hawaiian Islands and offer some perspectives for the island’s ecological transformation and the consequences.

Diet of the prehistoric population of Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile) shows environmental adaptation and resilience.

Abstract Objectives The Rapa Nui “ecocide” narrative questions whether the prehistoric population caused an avoidable ecological disaster through rapid deforestation and over‐exploitation of natural resources. The objective of this study was to characterize prehistoric human diets to shed light on human adaptability and land use in an island environment with limited resources. Materials and methods Materials for this study included human, faunal, and botanical remains from the archaeological sites Anakena and Ahu Tepeu on Rapa Nui, dating from c. 1400 AD to the historic period, and modern reference material. We used bulk carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses and amino acid compound specific isotope analyses (AA‐CSIA) of collagen isolated from prehistoric human and faunal bone, to assess the use of marine versus terrestrial resources and to investigate the underlying baseline values. Similar isotope analyses of archaeological and modern botanical and marine samples were used to characterize the local environment. Results Results of carbon and nitrogen AA‐CSIA independently show that around half the protein in diets from the humans measured came from marine sources; markedly higher than previous estimates. We also observed higher δ15N values in human collagen than could be expected from the local environment. Discussion Our results suggest highly elevated δ15N values could only have come from consumption of crops grown in substantially manipulated soils. These findings strongly suggest that the prehistoric population adapted and exhibited astute environmental awareness in a harsh environment with nutrient poor soils. Our results also have implications for evaluating marine reservoir corrections of radiocarbon dates.

East Polynesian Islands as Models of Cultural Divergence: The Case of Rapa Nui and Rapa Iti

ABSTRACT The diverse island societies of East Polynesia are well-suited as models for comparative evolutionary analysis. Settled ca. 750 BP by a common ancestral population, colonists of the remote corners of the Pacific shared a pool of cultural traits that included commensal species, language, technology, and other cultural practices. Following colonization however, island populations diverged in language, subsistence practices, degree of territoriality, settlement patterns, investment and forms of monumental architecture, and social organization. Driven by historical circumstances and varied environmental conditions, this divergence presents evolutionary case studies of alternative paths of cultural change. One explanatory approach to this evolutionary divergence involves isolating the critical ecological parameters that likely constrained and shaped the diverse history of island populations. Here, we offer a comparative evolutionary analysis that explores the divergent histories of two marginal East Polynesian islands: Rapa Nui and Rapa Iti.

Using Structure from Motion Mapping to Record and Analyze Details of the Colossal Hats ( Pukao ) of Monumental Statues on Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

ABSTRACT Structure from motion (SfM) mapping is a photogrammetric technique that offers a cost-effective means of creating three-dimensional (3-D) visual representations from overlapping digital photographs. The technique is now used more frequently to document the archaeological record. We demonstrate the utility of SfM by studying red scoria bodies known as pukao from Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile). We created 3-D images of 50 pukao that once adorned the massive statues (moai) of Rapa Nui and compare them to 13 additional pukao located in Puna Pau, the islands red scoria pukao quarry. Through SfM, we demonstrate that the majority of these bodies have petroglyphs and other surface features that are relevant to archaeological explanation and are currently at risk of continued degradation. El mapeo de estructura a partir del movimiento (SfM por sus siglas en inglés) es una técnica fotométrica de bajo costo que permite crear representaciones visuales en tres dimensiones a través de la superposición de fotografías digitales. Actualmente la técnica es usada con más frecuencia para el registro de datos arqueológicos. Aquí demostramos la utilidad de la técnica SfM para estudiar los elementos esculpidos de escoria roja conocidos como pukao de Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua, Chile). Se crearon imágenes en 3D de 50 pukao que alguna vez decoraron las enormes estatuas (moai) de Rapa Nui y se compararon con 13 pukao adicionales localizados en Puna Pau, la cantera en la isla donde se extraía la escoria roja utilizada para los pukao. A través del uso de la técnica SfM se demuestra que la mayoría de estos elementos tiene petroglifos y otros rasgos superficiales que son relevantes para las explicaciones arqueológicas y que actualmente se encuentran en riesgo de degradación continuada.

Automated mound detection using lidar and object-based image analysis in Beaufort County, South Carolina

ABSTRACT The study of precontact anthropogenic mounded features—earthen mounds, shell heaps, and shell rings—in the American Southeast is stymied by the spotty distribution of systematic surveys across the region. Many extant, yet unidentified, archaeological mound features continue to evade detection due to the heavily forested canopies that occupy large areas of the region, making pedestrian surveys difficult and preventing aerial observation. Object-based image analysis (OBIA) is a tool for analyzing light and radar (lidar) data and offers an inexpensive opportunity to address this challenge. Using publicly available lidar data from Beaufort County, South Carolina, and an OBIA approach that incorporates morphometric classification and statistical template matching, we systematically identify over 160 previously undetected mound features. This result improves our overall knowledge of settlement patterns by providing systematic knowledge about past landscapes.

Coastal groundwater discharge and the ancient inhabitants of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile

The population of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in pre-historic time is believed to have numbered in the thousands although typical perennial sources of drinking water (streams, springs) are nearly absent from the island. From the accounts of early European explorers, it is known that the people of Rapa Nui utilized brackish drinking water. Beyond this, almost nothing is known of the water resources in prehistory. The authors report here on field studies that suggest the ancient inhabitants of Rapa Nui survived periods of drought due to their utilization of brackish groundwater discharge that surfaces buoyantly at coastlines. This water was ponded in interception trenches, possibly captured in coastal impoundments, or just skimmed from the surface of seawater. Two field surveys indicate abundant locations of brackish but potable water along the coastline. The field surveys failed to identify distributed inland sources that are likely drought-resistant sources of water. Although coastal groundwater sources of are of poor quality, they were apparently sufficient to support the population and allow them to build the magnificent statues (moai) for which Easter Island is famous.RésuméOn pense que, à l’époque préhistorique, la population de Rapa Nui (île de Pâques) se comptait par milliers bien que les sources d’eau de boisson classiques (rivières, sources) aient été à peu près absentes sur l’île. Des témoignages des premiers explorateurs européens, on sait que les habitants de Rapa Nui utilisaient pour boire de l’eau saumâtre. Presque rien d’autre n’est. connu sur les ressources en eau dans la préhistoire. Cet article discute des études de terrain qui suggèrent que les anciens habitants de Rapa Nui ont survécu à des périodes de sècheresse grâce à leur utilisation des eaux souterraines saumâtres qui affleuraient abondamment le long des côtes. Cette eau était interceptée par des tranchées, possiblement recueillie dans des petits bassins ou juste récupérée à partir de la surface de l’eau de mer. Deux enquêtes de terrain ont permis d’identifier de nombreuses localisations d’eau saumâtre mais potable le long de la côte. Ces enquêtes n’ont pas permis d’identifier des sources à l’intérieur des terres qui seraient de possibles sources d’eau résistant à la sécheresse. Même si les sources d’eau souterraine côtière sont de faible qualité, elles ont été un apport apparemment suffisant pour les habitants et leur ont permis de construire les superbes statues (moai) qui ont rendu fameuse l’île de Pâques.ResumenSe cree que la población de Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua) en tiempos prehistóricos se ha contado por miles, aunque las fuentes perennes típicas de agua potable (arroyos, manantiales) están casi ausentes en la isla. Según los relatos de los primeros exploradores europeos, se sabe que la gente de Rapa Nui utilizaba agua potable salobre. Más allá de esto, casi no se sabe nada de los recursos hídricos en la prehistoria. Este artículo informa sobre estudios de campo que sugieren que los antiguos habitantes de Rapa Nui sobrevivieron a períodos de sequía debido a la utilización de descargas de aguas subterráneas salobres que emergen de manera flotante en las costas. Esta agua fue colocada en trincheras de intercepción, posiblemente capturadas en embalses costeros, o simplemente filtrada de la superficie del agua de mar. Dos estudios de campo indican abundantes ubicaciones de agua salobre pero potable a lo largo de la costa. Los relevamientos de campo no identificaron fuentes situadas tierra adentro que probablemente sean fuentes de agua resistentes a la sequía. Aunque las fuentes costeras de agua subterránea son de baja calidad, aparentemente fueron suficientes para mantener a la población y permitirles construir las magníficas estatuas (moai) por las que es famosa la Isla de Pascua.摘要史前时期Rapa Nui(复活节岛)的人口数量通常认为达几千人,尽管岛上几乎不存在典型的四季不断的饮用水资源(河流、泉)。从欧洲早期探险者的记录得知,Rapa Nui的居民用微咸水当做饮用水。除此之外,人们几乎对史前的水资源一无所知。本文论述了野外研究成果,研究成果表明Rapa Nui古代居民在干旱期利用从地下排泄出的、漂浮在海岸线的微咸地下水维持生命。这种水在拦截沟壕汇集成池塘,可能是在沿海蓄水中被截留或者从海水面上被撇留。两次野外调查表明,沿海岸线有大量的微咸但可以饮用的水储存地。野外调查未能确定可能是抗旱水源的分散内陆水源。尽管沿海地下水源水质很差,但很明显足够维持这些人口的生命以及使他们能够建造使复活岛名声鹊起的雄伟雕像(摩埃)。ResumoAcredita-se que a população de Rapa Nui (Ilha de Páscoa) no tempo pré-histórico era numerosa aos milhares embora fontes perenes típicas de água potável (rios, nascentes) sejam quase ausentes na ilha. Pelas contas dos primeiros exploradores europeus, sabe-se que o povo de Rapa Nui utilizava água salobra para consumo. Além disso, quase nada é conhecido dos recursos hídricos na pré-história. Esse trabalho reporta-se à estudos de campo que sugerem que os antigos habitantes de Rapa Nui sobreviveram a períodos de seca por causa da utilização de descarga de águas subterrâneas salobras que rompe em superfície flutuante nas linhas costeiras. Essa água foi empoçada em trincheiras de interceptação, possivelmente capturada em represamentos costeiros, ou apenas criando uma fina camada na superfície da água salgada. Duas pesquisas de campo indicam locais de água salobra e potável abundante pela linha costeira. As pesquisas de campo falharam em identificar os recursos distribuídos em para dentro da ilha que são as prováveis fontes de água resistentes à seca. Embora as fontes de águas subterrâneas costeiras sejam de baixa qualidade, elas eram aparentemente suficientes para suprir a população e permitir que eles construíssem estátuas magníficas (moai) pelas quais a Ilha da Páscoa é famosa.ÖzetAdada neredeyse hiç tipik uzun ömürlü içme suyu kaynağı (akarsular, membalar) bulunmamasına rağmen, Rapa Nui’nin (Paskalya Adası) tarihöncesi çağlardaki nüfusunun binler düzeyinde olduğu düşünülmektedir. İlk Avrupalı kaşiflerin kayıtlarına göre Rapa Nui halkının tuzlu su tükettiği bilinmektedir. Bunun dışında, tarihöncesi su kaynakları ile ilgili neredeyse hiçbir şey bilinmemektedir. Bu araştırmanın saha çalışmalarına göre Rapa Nui’nin geçmişteki sakinleri, sahil şeridinde su yüzüne çıkan hafif tuzlu yeraltı suyu boşalımından faydalanarak kuraklık dönemleri atlatmıştır. Bu su, hendeklerde depolanmış, muhtemelen kıyısal barajlarda yakalanmış, veya yalnızca deniz suyunun yüzeyinden sıyrılmıştır. İki saha çalışması, sahil şeridi boyunca pek çok noktada tuzlu ancak içilebilir su bulunduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Saha çalışmaları, yayılmış halde bulunan ve kuraklığa direnebilecek karasal su kaynaklarının tespit edilmesinde başarısız olmuştur. Kıyısal yeraltı suyu kaynakları düşük kaliteli olmalarına rağmen, görünüşe göre halkın ihtiyacını gidermeye ve Paskalya Adası’nın meşhur görkemli heykellerini (moai) inşa etmeye yetecek seviyedeydi.