Alternative ViewpointsAlternative Viewpoints

To the Standard Jared To the Standard Jared Diamond Easter Island Diamond Easter Island

Collapse ScenarioCollapse Scenario

Standard TimelineStandard Timeline

Revised TimelineRevised Timeline

What might the problem be here?

The TreesThe Trees

For thousands of years, most of Rapa For thousands of years, most of Rapa Nui was covered with palm trees. Nui was covered with palm trees. Pollen records show that the Pollen records show that the JubaeaJubaea palm became established at least palm became established at least 35,000 years ago and survived a 35,000 years ago and survived a number of climatic and environmental number of climatic and environmental changes. But by the time the Dutch changes. But by the time the Dutch arrived in 1722, most of these large arrived in 1722, most of these large stands of forest had disappeared. stands of forest had disappeared.

Rats Ate The TreesRats Ate The Trees

Archaeologist J. Stephen Athens of the Archaeologist J. Stephen Athens of the International Archaeological Research Institute International Archaeological Research Institute conducted excavations on the Hawaiian Island of conducted excavations on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu and found that deforestation of the Ewa Oahu and found that deforestation of the Ewa Plain took place largely between 900 and 1100 Plain took place largely between 900 and 1100 A.D. but that the first evidence of human A.D. but that the first evidence of human presence on this part of the island was not until presence on this part of the island was not until about 1250 A.D. There were no climatic about 1250 A.D. There were no climatic explanations for the disappearance of palm trees, explanations for the disappearance of palm trees, but there was evidence that the Polynesian rat but there was evidence that the Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans)(Rattus exulans), introduced by the first human , introduced by the first human colonists, was present in the area by about 900 colonists, was present in the area by about 900 A.D. Athens showed that it was likely rats that A.D. Athens showed that it was likely rats that deforested large areas of Oahu. deforested large areas of Oahu.

Rats are the limiting factorRats are the limiting factor

Previous archaeological studies, found Previous archaeological studies, found thousands of rat bones. It seems that the thousands of rat bones. It seems that the Polynesian rat population grew quickly, Polynesian rat population grew quickly, then fell more recently before becoming then fell more recently before becoming extinct in the face of competition from rat extinct in the face of competition from rat species introduced by Europeans. Almost all species introduced by Europeans. Almost all of the palm seed shells discovered on the of the palm seed shells discovered on the island show signs of having been gnawed island show signs of having been gnawed on by rats, indicating that these once-on by rats, indicating that these once-ubiquitous rodents did affect the ubiquitous rodents did affect the JubaeaJubaea palm's ability to reproduce. palm's ability to reproduce.

From Benny PesierFrom Benny Pesier

“Together with abundant and virtually unlimited sources of seafood, the cultivation of the island’s fertile soil could easily sustain many thousands of inhabitants interminably. In view of the profusion of broadly unlimited food supplies (which also included abundant chickens, their eggs and the islands innumerable rats, a culinary ‘delicacy’ that were always available in abundance), Diamond’s notion that the natives resorted to cannibalism as a result of catastrophic mass starvation is palpably absurd. In fact, there is no archaeological evidence whatsoever for either starvation or cannibalism.”

Europeans or NotEuropeans or Not

By 1877 EI population was down to 100By 1877 EI population was down to 100 Diamond Scenario: Europeans not to blameDiamond Scenario: Europeans not to blame Alternative Scenario: Europeans brought Alternative Scenario: Europeans brought

disease to the 3000 inhabitants in 1772disease to the 3000 inhabitants in 1772 Prior to Europeans, deforestation was Prior to Europeans, deforestation was

conducted in order to create agricultural conducted in order to create agricultural fields and plant much more useful crops, like fields and plant much more useful crops, like sweet potato and taro sweet potato and taro sustainable farming sustainable farming

Due to its isolation, European visits after Due to its isolation, European visits after 1772 were infrequent and brief1772 were infrequent and brief

Statue Obsessed?Statue Obsessed? According to Thor Heyerdahl's estimates ia According to Thor Heyerdahl's estimates ia

relatively small number of workers (six) in a relatively small number of workers (six) in a relatively short period of time (a year) could relatively short period of time (a year) could produce a typical statue (Moai) working produce a typical statue (Moai) working only with stone carving implements. only with stone carving implements. Moreover, there is no reason to believe that Moreover, there is no reason to believe that a statue was carved in a single effort. The a statue was carved in a single effort. The quarry on the sides of the extinct volcano quarry on the sides of the extinct volcano holds hundreds of statues in various stages holds hundreds of statues in various stages of carving, from some lightly sketched out of carving, from some lightly sketched out to others all but completed. Any given to others all but completed. Any given statue conceivably could have been a statue conceivably could have been a family/clan project worked on for years.family/clan project worked on for years.

Labor Intensive or Not?Labor Intensive or Not? The traditional stories by Rapa Nui natives were that the The traditional stories by Rapa Nui natives were that the

statues "walked" to their sites. Contrarily, Jared statues "walked" to their sites. Contrarily, Jared Diamond suggests that a large statue required at least Diamond suggests that a large statue required at least twenty carvers for a month and 500 adults for an twenty carvers for a month and 500 adults for an undetermined length of time to move a large statue undetermined length of time to move a large statue from the quarry lying on a wooden sled to a seaside from the quarry lying on a wooden sled to a seaside platform. He supposes that substantial amounts of wood platform. He supposes that substantial amounts of wood and rope (from woven tree bark) would be necessary for and rope (from woven tree bark) would be necessary for this effort. And, indeed, if that approach were the only this effort. And, indeed, if that approach were the only possibility for moving the statues, it would require possibility for moving the statues, it would require substantial numbers of adult laborers. On his 1955 substantial numbers of adult laborers. On his 1955 archeological expedition, Heyerdahl demonstrated that archeological expedition, Heyerdahl demonstrated that fifteen men using four ropes in carefully choreographed fifteen men using four ropes in carefully choreographed sequences could "walk" a twenty-ton statue 100 yards sequences could "walk" a twenty-ton statue 100 yards per day. As an additional argument in favor of the per day. As an additional argument in favor of the walking technique, abandoned statues that have fallen walking technique, abandoned statues that have fallen on the paths to the seacoast are found face down. on the paths to the seacoast are found face down.

The Soil Erosion IssueThe Soil Erosion Issue

Descriptions from the first European Descriptions from the first European arrivals told of remarkable soil fertility arrivals told of remarkable soil fertility and easy crop cultivation in terraced and easy crop cultivation in terraced fields, requiring little sustained effort. If fields, requiring little sustained effort. If there was an all-island Clan War during there was an all-island Clan War during the final collapse years it seems the final collapse years it seems unlikely that the agricultural unlikely that the agricultural infrastructure remained undamaged. infrastructure remained undamaged. In addition, there was little evidence of In addition, there was little evidence of rampant soil erosion or sustained rampant soil erosion or sustained drought. drought.

So which Scenario is CorrectSo which Scenario is Correct

Diamond over population + over Diamond over population + over resource utilization? Requires peak resource utilization? Requires peak population of 20,000population of 20,000

Alternative sustainable farmers Alternative sustainable farmers wiped out by introduction of wiped out by introduction of European rats carrying diseases?European rats carrying diseases?

Rats vs. Humans for destruction of Rats vs. Humans for destruction of palm trees?palm trees?

Major UnknownsMajor Unknowns

When first inhabited?When first inhabited?400 AD, 900 AD, or 1200 AD (radio 400 AD, 900 AD, or 1200 AD (radio

carbon dating)carbon dating)How long did it take to make 887 How long did it take to make 887

statues?statues?Small population many decadesSmall population many decades

Large population (10x) many fewer decadesLarge population (10x) many fewer decades

Was movement of statues log intensive?Was movement of statues log intensive?

Rate of deforestation, slow vs. rapid?Rate of deforestation, slow vs. rapid?

Rate of soil erosion, slow vs. rapid?Rate of soil erosion, slow vs. rapid?

What About Natural HazardsWhat About Natural Hazards

Volcanic eruption Volcanic eruption no activity for no activity for last 12,000 yearslast 12,000 years

Little Ice Age (1650 – 1850) could Little Ice Age (1650 – 1850) could have produced long term climate have produced long term climate change (drought) on EI; timing is change (drought) on EI; timing is about rightabout right

One more possibility hardly One more possibility hardly considered at all but seems quite considered at all but seems quite likely given what we know nowlikely given what we know now

A Chilean TsunamiA Chilean Tsunami

In 1960, an earthquake in Chile triggered a In 1960, an earthquake in Chile triggered a tidal wave, which hit the coast of Easter tidal wave, which hit the coast of Easter Island at Tongariki. The tidal wave sent the Island at Tongariki. The tidal wave sent the 15 Tongariki moai—some of which weigh 15 Tongariki moai—some of which weigh 30 tons—several hundred feet inland. The 30 tons—several hundred feet inland. The ahu, the largest on Easter Island, was ahu, the largest on Easter Island, was effectively destroyed. It wasn't until 1992 effectively destroyed. It wasn't until 1992 that the site was restored, under the that the site was restored, under the direction of Chilean archaeologist, Claudio direction of Chilean archaeologist, Claudio Cristino. The task took five years. Cristino. The task took five years.