Rapa Nui Genomes Reveal Historical Past

• The island of Rapa Nui, part of Polynesia, was first settled by European sailors in 1722.
• The island’s harsh geography, including limited freshwater sources, poor soil quality, and low flora and fauna, led to the belief that humans overpopulated the island, leading to ecological collapse.

Rapa Nui’s Statues and Their Historical Significance
• Rapa Nui is known for its large statues called moai, carved in volcanic stone and representing the Rapa Nui’s revered ancestors.
• Over 900 moai have been found on the island, with over half transported across considerable distances from the quarries.

Rapa Nui’s Population and Agriculture
• Scientists believe the island’s population declined by around 1,600 before European explorers arrived in the 18th century.
• The natives were believed to have burned palm vegetation to improve soil productivity and used rock gardening to protect soil moisture.

Rapa Nui’s Population and Genetic Studies
• Researchers from Columbia University, Arizona University, and Binghamton University trained an AI model to identify locations where rock-gardening was practiced.
• The estimated population of the Rapa Nui may have numbered fewer than 4,000 people.

Rapa Nui’s Genetic Evolution and Catastrophic Events
• In the event of an ecological collapse or population bottleneck, the genomes of the Rapa Nui people could provide insights into population bottlenecks.
• A study dated the Rapa Nui population to around 1300 AD, confirming a previous finding and ruling out a population decline in around 1600 AD.

Restoring Real Histories
• The Rapa Nui may have been living responsibly, only to be decimated by the apathy of other peoples.
• Studying indigenous genomes offers insights into historical population dynamics, ecological adaptations, and human migration and survival stories.