Collapse of Rapa Nui

[DrmDoc]

What happened to the population of Easter Island? Nothing, according to this article in the IB Times. The Rapa Nui were a successful society until the Europeans arrived according to evidence based on a new analysis of island weaponry. According to the article, the abundance of prehistoric spearheads found on the island's shores and the desolation of the island's vegetation had previously led researchers to believe that sparse resources led to war and cannibalism among its inhabitants. New analysis of their so-called weaponry, according to Professor Carl Lipo of Binghamton University, suggests that their variable shapes and variance from traditional weapons rendered their spearheads useless for fighting. The Professor appears to make the argument that the Rapa Nui's weapons were so unlike European weapons that they were not effective for defense. The Professor also describes the lack of skeletal evidence of war related injury If I understand his argument correctly, I can't say that I entirely agree with his assessment. What are your thoughts.

[imatfaal]

I thought they felt that over logging had rendered the islands unable to sustain a viable population (which relied on timber for many crucial needs but used it for the creation, moving, etc of big stone heads). Is it possible this is a revisionist hotshot making a desperate bid for his 5 minutes

[Phi for All]

Are there other historical examples of a warrior civilization adopting unwieldy weapons? Incredulity alone tells me it's doubtful any trained warrior would go into personal combat with a weapon he'd observed killing more of his own people than the enemy.

[DrmDoc]

I thought they felt that over logging had rendered the islands unable to sustain a viable population (which relied on timber for many crucial needs but used it for the creation, moving, etc of big stone heads). Is it possible this is a revisionist hotshot making a desperate bid for his 5 minutes

 

Are there other historical examples of a warrior civilization adopting unwieldy weapons? Incredulity alone tells me it's doubtful any trained warrior would go into personal combat with a weapon he'd observed killing more of his own people than the enemy.

 

I think the island's unique and limited resources likely offers a reasonable explanation for the variance of Rapa Nui weaponry from European weaponry. Rapa Nui weapons were likely as unique as their construction resources, which may have been unlike those available to Europeans. However, I'm not convinced that this distinction made their weapons any less lethal. Although war and cannibalism among the island's inhabitants have been theorized, I think the lack of evidence among skeletal remains provides credible support for Prof Lipo's position. In my opinion, the island's population decline was more likely linked to the depletion of island resources and the arrival of Europeans and their diseases.