A new DNA analysis challenges the long-held notion that Easter Island’s population experienced a rapid decline around the 17th century. The study, published in Nature, analyzed the genomes of 15 Rapa Nui individuals and found no evidence of a genetic bottleneck, indicating that the population never collapsed.
Researchers had previously debated whether the island’s population plummeted due to deforestation, resource overexploitation, and warfare during the 1600s. However, this new study suggests that the population steadily increased until the 1860s, when Peruvian slave raids decreased the population by one-third.
The analysis also revealed that the Rapa Nui had contact with Native Americans, as their DNA showed a significant presence of Native American genetic material. This finding is supported by previous studies and suggests that Polynesians may have traveled to the Americas or that Native Americans visited Easter Island.
The study’s lead author, J. Víctor Moreno-Mayar, noted that the date of around 1300 for the introduction of Native American DNA is important because it predates European contact with the island in 1722. This discovery offers evidence that the Rapa Nui may have been crossing the Pacific Ocean and visiting the Americas.
However, some experts remain skeptical about the study’s findings, citing concerns about the reliability of the ancient DNA samples. Archaeologist Jo Anne Van Tilburg questioned the study’s methodology and population estimates, noting that further research is necessary to confirm these results.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/easter-islands-population-never-collapsed-but-it-did-have-contact-with-native-americans-dna-study-suggests