This week, Anna and Amber voyage to the island of Rapa Nui, famous for its monumental stone heads, and for the idea that its islanders caused their own collapse through environmental exploitation. Turns out, that's probably not what happened! Tune in to learn more about what archaeology and anthropology can tell us about the real stories of the Rapanui people.
Links
The Archaeology of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) (Oxford Handbook of Prehistoric Oceania)
Rapa Nui (Easter Island) monument (ahu) locations explained by freshwater sources (PLOSOne)
The ‘walking’ megalithic statues (moai) of Easter Island (Journal of Archaeological Science)
Easter Island Mystery Solved? New Theory Says Giant Statues Rocked (National Geographic)
Object: Hoa Hakananai'a ('lost or stolen friend') (British Museum)
Rock art of Easter Island : symbols of power, prayers to the gods (via WorldCat)
The Soft, Warm, Wet Technology of Native Oceania (Whole Earth Review)
Easter Island land dispute clashes leave dozens injured (BBC News, 2010)
Police evict Rapa Nui clan from Easter Island hotel (BBC News, 2011)