Is Easter Island an archaeological site?

Archaeology of Easter Island. Archaeological surveys were carried out in 1886, 1914, and 1934; archaeological excavations were initiated in 1955. The excavations revealed that three distinct cultural periods are identifiable on the island.

Where does the mystery of Easter Island stem from?

The research team mapped the island — which has no streams or springs — for sources of fresh water. They discovered that it emerged from underground in areas along the coast, through a process called groundwater discharge. “Fresh water would literally come out right between the coast and the ocean in a stream.

What happened to the Rapa Nui civilization?

In this story, made popular by geographer Jared Diamond’s bestselling book Collapse, the Indigenous people of the island, the Rapanui, so destroyed their environment that, by around 1600, their society fell into a downward spiral of warfare, cannibalism, and population decline.

What did the Incas and Mayans have in common?

The civilizations of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca that once flourished in Central and South America shared common elements. People practiced farming, developed social structures, raised armies, and worshipped many gods. The three civilizations were as diverse as the terrains in which they lived.

How did the Rapa Nui build the moai?

Easter Island – The Statues and Rock Art of Rapa Nui. Using basalt stone picks, the Easter Island Moai were carved from the solidified volcanic ash of Rano Raraku volcano. Once completed, the statues were then moved from the quarry to their intended site and erected on an ‘ahu’.

Who inhabited Easter Island?

Early Settlement The first human inhabitants of Rapa Nui (the Polynesian name for Easter Island; its Spanish name is Isla de Pascua) are believed to have arrived in an organized party of emigrants. Archaeology dates their arrival at between 700-800 A.D., while linguists estimate it was around the year 400.

When did the Rapa Nui arrive on Easter Island?

The first human inhabitants of Rapa Nui (the Polynesian name for Easter Island; its Spanish name is Isla de Pascua) are believed to have arrived in an organized party of emigrants. Archaeology dates their arrival at between 700-800 A.D., while linguists estimate it was around the year 400.

How did Polynesians get to Easter Island?

Some scientists say that Easter Island was not inhabited until 700–800 CE. The Austronesian Polynesians, who first settled the island, are likely to have arrived from the Marquesas Islands from the west. These settlers brought bananas, taro, sugarcane, and paper mulberry, as well as chickens and Polynesian rats.

Are the Rapa Nui extinct?

First of all, the Rapa Nui haven’t been wiped off the face of the Earth: the Rapa Nui people still make up over half the Polynesian population today. Their ancestors likely arrived on Easter Island, now part of Chile, roughly a millennium ago.

What is the difference between the Incas Aztecs and Mayans?

The Aztec and Maya were Mesoamerican civilizations, living in Mexico and Central America, while the Incas lived in South America. The Mayans are credited with the Mayan calendar and the Aztecs also have a calendar, while the Incas are famed for their masonry and engineering skills. All three were great civilizations.

Which of the following was a similarity between the Maya Aztecs and Incas?

The similarity between the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas is that all had control of massive empires that eventually ceased to exist. Other than that common factor, the groups all had different ways of life and unique languages, political agendas, religious views and ways to provide for their people.