The new findings show that deforestation was prolonged and didn’t result in catastrophic erosion; the trees were ultimately replaced by gardens mulched with stone that increased agricultural productivity. During times of drought, the people may have relied on freshwater coastal seeps.
Construction of the moai statues, considered by some to be a contributing factor of collapse, actually continued even after European arrival.
In short, the island never had more than a few thousand people prior to European contact, and their numbers were increasing rather than dwindling.
“Those resilience strategies were very successful, despite the fact that the climate got drier. They are a really good case for resiliency and sustainability,” Professor Lipo said.
The results were published in the journal Nature Communications.
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