Famed Pacific island’s population ‘crash’ debunked by ancient DNA
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02962-w
A recent DNA study of ancient Rapa Nui (Easter Island) residents debunks the long-standing theory of a pre-European population collapse caused by environmental destruction. Instead, the study, conducted with input from the island’s Indigenous community, shows that the population remained steady until European diseases and slavery ravaged the island. Researchers also found Native American DNA in ancient Rapanui remains, suggesting contact between Polynesians and South Americans long before European arrival. This discovery reshapes our understanding of Polynesian voyaging and the resilience of the Rapanui people.
