So what happened to the indigenous group of people where food was abundant due to efficient use of land and sea resources? According to the documentary “Easter Island Where Giants Walked” by Fall of Civilizations, a few theories include that there was tribal violence from its legends and myths, however archaeologists have found very little evidence in the skeletal remains that favor the theory on violence. What they did find however was in the neighboring island of Rapa Lti tribal conflicts of war and violence down spirled the society and culture.

Therefore the most recent theory as to what happened to Rapa Nui’s sequential downfall was the contact of European mercenary ships undertaking trade routes. One such occasion, on the 15th of November in 1770, two Spanish ships anchored on the shores of Rapa Nui. What occurred during that initial encounter remains speculative however Captain Cook who arrived some years following 1770 noticed changes to the people of Rapa Nui.

Cook noticed the population decline and how they carried weapons when visiting the foreigners that sailed upon its shore. Such accounts were in sharp contrast to Roggeveen’s diary who wrote about his first impressions that were overall positive and quite different from Cook’s encounter. Another striking change was how the moais were toppled over, which they spent generations constructing. Some of the most recent findings suggest that the early contacts with explorers turned hostile and violent starting from Roggveen’s visit. One of the reasons being is that both people were nervous and therefore treaded with trepidation when encountering one another.

Furthermore, due to feelings of anxiety, a misunderstanding from the natural curiosity of Rapa Nuis could have led to the beginnings of a greater cultural tragedy. One, being the use of guns from the early explorers which killed the islanders who had never seen guns before in their life. Following such tragedy, the moais which they religiously believed would provide protection dissolved to be seen as a false sense of reality that shook their understanding of the world.

Secondly, the bullets were not the deadliest legacy they left behind, it was the “germs, viruses, and microbes” that the Rapa Nuis were not exposed to where it eventually took a devastating toll on their population. To make matters worse, by 1789, maps were drafted to indicate the location of Rapa Nui that led to further conflicts with explorers and the natives. For example, Rapa Nui was a frequented location to restock on supplies like food and more than 50 ships were recorded to have stopped there; but by all estimates, it could have been more.

Then in 1805, whaling expeditions became a rising industry and a ship full of American seal-hunters were short handed. To meet the needs for extra labor, they sailed to Rapa Nui and “kidnapped 22 natives”.This event unfortunately marked what was the beginning of an organized slave taking throughout the years.

Photo credit: Creative Commons use, Wikipedia, Rapa Nui