Mystery of Easter Island population collapse solved by looking at diets of the ancient Rapa Nui
By Léa Surugue
Updated July 12, 2017 12:03 BST
What led to the collapse of an ancient civilisation on Easter Island, a remote stretch of wilderness off the coasts of Chile, has long been one of archaeology's most enduring mysteries.
The prevailing theory is that Rapa Nui people who lived on the island recklessly destroyed their environment, used up all its natural resources, and ran out of food. This is in the end what caused their demise.
But a new study published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology now contradicts this view, showing that this ancient population might actually have adapted to a harsh conditions on the island with a more balanced use of resources than previously thought.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/mystery-easter-island-population-collapse-solved-by-looking-diets-ancient-rapa-nui-1630009
