The Prehistory of Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

This book addresses the main enigmas of Easter Island's (Rapa Nui, in the Polynesian language) prehistory from the time of initial settlement to European contact with a multidisciplinary perspective. The main topics include: (i) the time of first settlement and the origin of the first settlers; (ii) the main features of prehistoric Rapanui culture and their changes; (iii) the deforestation of the island and its timing and causes; (iv) the extinction of the indigenous biota, (v) the occurrence of climatic shifts and their potential effects on socioecological trends; (vi) the evidence for a cultural and demographic collapse before European contact; and (vii) the influence of Europeans on prehistoric Rapanui society. The book is subdivided into thematic sections and each chapter is written by renowned specialists in disciplines such as archaeology, anthropology, paleoecology, ethnography, linguistics, ethnobotany, phylogenetics/phylogeography and history. Contributors have been invited toprovide an open and objective vision that includes as many views as possible on the topics considered. In this way, the readers may be able to compare different of points of view and make their own interpretations on each of the subjects considered. The book is intended for a wide audience including graduate students, advanced undergraduate students, university teachers and researchers interested in the subject. Given its multidisciplinary character and the topics included, the book is suitable for students and researchers from a wide range of disciplines and interests.

Autorentext

Valentí Rull is biologist with a PhD in Paleoecology. During the last 40 years, VR has used past ecological evidence to address topics such as i) the type and characteristics of biotic responses to environmental change; ii) the role of human and climatic drivers as causes of ecological change; iii) the role of tectonics, paleogeography and climate change on the origin of biodiversity; iv) hypotheses testing on long-term ecological processes; and v) predictions on biotic responses to eventual future climatic scenarios. VR has conducted his research on several temperate, tropical and subtropical regions as for example the northern tropical Andes, the Orinoco lowlands and delta, the Guayana region, the Maracaibo basin, Easter Island, the Azores Islands and the Pyrenees. Dr. Rull has published 12 books and more than 280 articles, and has been included in the Stanford World's Top 2% Scientists for the period 1996-2020. Christopher M. Stevenson received his Ph.D. in archaeology in 1984. Previous professional experience has included cultural resource management investigations (1985-2000) within the United States and a position in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources as a regional archaeologist (2000-2011). For over 25 years he has conducted archaeological fieldwork on Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile, investigating regional settlement patterns and ancient farming strategies. Other areas of fieldwork include excavations at prehistoric and historic archaeological sites in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the Canary Islands. Dr. Stevenson has published multiple books on Rapa Nui prehistory and 105 journal articles. His analytical specialties include infrared spectroscopy, hydrothermal alteration of glass, and obsidian hydration dating of prehistoric artifacts.

Inhalt

IntroductionTitle: Aims, scope and contents of the bookAuthors: Valentí Rull, Christopher M. Stevenson, Thegn Ladefoged Part I. Transpacific voyaging and settlement Chapter 1Title: Southern Ocean climate influence on trans-eastern pacific voyaging and colonization of Easter IslandAuthors: Ian D. Goodwin, Stuart A. Browning Chapter 2Title: Computer simulation of the ocean voyages required for the colonization of Rapa NuiAuthors: John Temmen, Alvaro Montenegro, Valentí Rull Chapter 3Title: Ahu Nau Nau re-visited: new perspectives on old problems at Anakena, RapaNuiAuthors: Paul Wallin, Helene Martinsson-Wallin Chapter 4Title: Geological processes determining the human occupation of Rapa NuiAuthors: Alberto Sáez, Olga Margalef, Santiago Giralt, Sergi Pla, Laura Becerril, Christian Herrera, James Goff Chapter 5Title: Sweet potato in Easter Island: insights from a monographic study of the genus IpomoeaAuthors: Pablo Muñoz-Rodríguez, Robert Scotland Chapter 6Title: Appraisal of the origins and timing of Rapa Nui's early settlementAuthor: Claudio Cristino, Patricia Vargas Chapter 7Title: Prehistoric genetic and cultural relationships between Easter Island and Tiwanaku (Bolivia, Titikaka Lake Altiplano)Authors: Antonio Arnaiz Chapter 8Title: mtDNA from chickens and how this relates to human settlement of the PacificAuthors: Jeremy Austin Part II. The ancient Rapanui culture Chapter 9Title: An assessment of refuge caves (ana kionga) on Rapa NuiAuthors: Christopher M. Stevenson, Juan G. Borrega, José M. Ramírez Chapter 10Title: Vinapu area revisitedAuthors: Helene Martinsson-Wallin Chapter 11Title: Crematoria and cremations in Rapa Nui traditional societyAuthors: Helene Martinsson-Wallin Chapter 12Title: Health and diet of ancient Easter Islanders: contribution from bioarchaeologyAuthors: Caroline Polet Chapter 13Title: Undelivered moai or unidentified monument?Authors: Nicolas Cauwe, Morgan De Dapper Chapter 14Title: Reconstructions and condemnations of cult platformsAuthors: Nicolas Cauwe Chapter 15Title: Palms for the archaeologistAuthor: David W. Ingersoll, Kathleen B. Ingersoll Chapter 16Title: Rano Raraku quarry excavationsAuthor: Jo Anne Van Tilburg, Mads Ravn, Casey R. Barrier, Alice Horn Chapter 17Title: Microstratigraphy in Rano Raraku: implications for slope development and site formation in the moai quarryAuthor: Sarah C. Sherwood, Jo Anne Van Tilburg Chapter 18Title: History intrinsic in Rapanui and Maori cultural traditions, and the revitalization of waka horua (canoe voyaging) and traditional celestial navigationAuthors: Kate Souness et al. Chapter 19Title: Geological origin and geomorphology of the Rano Raraku landform - providing context for human land use and archaeological studyAuthor: Richard K. Dunn Chapter 20Title: The influence of climate, lava weathering and rock gardens on Easter island's rock-derived soil nutrientsAuthors: Oliver Chadwick, Nina Bringham, Cedric Puleston, Thegn Ladefoged, Peter Vitousek, Sonia Haoa, Christopher M. Stevenson Chapter 21Title: Pollen, phytolith, and starch evidence for agricultural plants on Rapa NuiAuthor: Linda S. Cummings Part III. Climatic and environmental change Chapter 22Title: Prehistoric paleoecology of Easter Island: historical account and a synthesis of the main contributionsAuthor: Valentí Rull Chapter 23Title: Climatology of Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua, Easter Island) ChileAuthors: Raymond S. Bradley, Henry F. Diaz, William J. D'Andrea, Liang Ning Chapter 24Title: Changing environment and the socio-ecological evolution of Easter IslandAuthor: David A. Sear, Melinda Allen, Pete Langdon, Alex Morrison, Justin Sheffield, John Dearing Chapter 25Title: Easter Island past hydrological balance as inferred from Rano Aroi pound record: clarifying the role of the ENSO phasesAuthors: Bruno Malaizé, Thierry Delcroix, Anne-Marie Sémah, Thibaut Caley, Isabelle Billy, Michel Orliac, Sonia Haoa Cardinali, Christine Hatté, Rodrigo Abarca del Rio, Anne-Laure Daniau, Charlotte Skonieczny, Catherine Orliac Chapter 26Title: Lipid-based records of hydroclimate change during the occupancy period of Rapa NuiAuthors: William J. D'Andrea, Raymond S. Bradley, Andrea Seelenfreund, Núria Cañellas-Boltà, Olga Margalef, Santiago Giralt, Alberto Sáez, Sergi Pla-Rabes, Valentí Rull Part IV. Deforestation and extinctions Chapter 27Title: Economic causes and consequences of deforestation on Easter Island (alternative: Open-access resources and the rise and fall of Easter Island)Author: James Brander Chapter 28Title: Spatial and temporal patterns of deforestation and other socioecologic…