SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

"A Colonial Story"

The widespread theory of an "ecological suicide" on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) gets a blow when the remains of 15 of the island's inhabitants are analyzed. Nothing indicates that the population collapsed before the Europeans arrived on the island, a research group concludes.

» Updated: 16 September 2024, 21:57

» Published: 16 September 2024

"A Colonial Story"
Photo: Esteban Felix/AP Photo/TT

The study, published in the scientific journal Nature, is based on genetic analysis of the remains of 15 individuals from the mythical island, 3,700 kilometers off the coast of Chile, known for its giant stone statues. These people lived on Rapa Nui between 1670 and 1950, but the remains are stored in a museum in Paris.

The theory of an ecological suicide, a self-inflicted crisis caused by the overexploitation of natural resources on Rapa Nui, has been used as a warning example.

The theory briefly states that all the island's trees were cut down in a power struggle between different clans on the island. Violence, famine, and anarchy led, according to this theory, to a population collapse before the first Europeans arrived in the 18th century.

"A colonial narrative"

"I personally believe that the idea of collapse has arisen as part of a colonial narrative. An idea that these primitive people could not manage their culture and did not take care of the environment properly. But the genetic evidence says the opposite," says one of the researchers, Victor Moreno-Mayar, in a press release from the University of Copenhagen.

The large population decline on the island was instead the result of the encounter with Europeans, claims the research group. Many were killed by Europeans, and many died as a result of diseases brought by Europeans. In the 1860s, a third of the population was then taken to Peru as slaves.

Genetic variation

The genetic analysis shows that the population has been stable from the 13th century, when the first inhabitants arrived, until the 18th century, when Europeans arrived. If the theory of a population collapse had been true, the genetic variation would not have been so great among the 15 individuals, the researchers emphasize.

The study also shows that Rapa Nui's population had genetic exchange with the indigenous population on the mainland long before Europeans arrived and named the island Easter Island.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

The King on the Climate Meeting: It's Moving Too Slowly
2 MIN READ

The King on the Climate Meeting: It's Moving Too Slowly

After harsh criticism – C calls crisis meeting
2 MIN READ

After harsh criticism – C calls crisis meeting

Town Hall Evacuated Due to Threatening Note
1 MIN READ

Town Hall Evacuated Due to Threatening Note

The Government appoints new Chancellor of Justice
1 MIN READ

The Government appoints new Chancellor of Justice

The Liberals' office attacked: "Abhorrent"
2 MIN READ

The Liberals' office attacked: "Abhorrent"

Three charged with thermos bomb in Malmö
1 MIN READ

Three charged with thermos bomb in Malmö

Kristersson: "Close dialogue with other countries"
1 MIN READ

Kristersson: "Close dialogue with other countries"

The Social Democrats want answers about stopped wind farms
1 MIN READ

The Social Democrats want answers about stopped wind farms

Two charged with fatal shooting at restaurant
1 MIN READ

Two charged with fatal shooting at restaurant

Power Outage in Court: "Sitting in Darkness"
1 MIN READ

Power Outage in Court: "Sitting in Darkness"

The Navy investigates sabotage on another cable
1 MIN READ

The Navy investigates sabotage on another cable

The parties behind the Tidö agreement want a cap on the size of children's groups.
3 MIN READ

The parties behind the Tidö agreement want a cap on the size of children's groups.

Åkesson: Total Stop for Citizenship
1 MIN READ

Åkesson: Total Stop for Citizenship

Man arrested for new sex crimes against children
1 MIN READ

Man arrested for new sex crimes against children

Five detained after explosion on Östermalm
1 MIN READ

Five detained after explosion on Östermalm

Further No to Offshore Wind Power
1 MIN READ

Further No to Offshore Wind Power

Investigation launched after report against Dumpen
1 MIN READ

Investigation launched after report against Dumpen

Proposal for Climate Agreement Slammed: Unacceptable
2 MIN READ

Proposal for Climate Agreement Slammed: Unacceptable

Four out of ten houses have deficiencies in fire protection.
1 MIN READ

Four out of ten houses have deficiencies in fire protection.

Snow and strong winds – households without electricity
2 MIN READ

Snow and strong winds – households without electricity