End of Easter Island | Explorer

early inhabitants cleared countless

early inhabitants cleared countless trees to build their society

slash-and-burn agriculture it could be

slash-and-burn agriculture it could be very destructive they were clearing

very destructive they were clearing

very destructive they were clearing larger and large expanses of land

larger and large expanses of land

larger and large expanses of land cutting down the forest to feed more

cutting down the forest to feed more

cutting down the forest to feed more people over the centuries the population

people over the centuries the population

people over the centuries the population grew by the thousands harvested trees

grew by the thousands harvested trees

grew by the thousands harvested trees became canoes and shelters but many were

became canoes and shelters but many were

became canoes and shelters but many were felled for the sake of one singular

felled for the sake of one singular

felled for the sake of one singular obsession building boy nearly all of the

obsession building boy nearly all of the

obsession building boy nearly all of the massive statues were carved from the

massive statues were carved from the

massive statues were carved from the soft stone of a single quarry

the Islanders considered each to embody

the Islanders considered each to embody the spirit of their ancestors some

the spirit of their ancestors some

the spirit of their ancestors some statues are over 30 feet tall and weigh

statues are over 30 feet tall and weigh

statues are over 30 feet tall and weigh more than 80 tons these monoliths were

more than 80 tons these monoliths were

more than 80 tons these monoliths were moved from the quarry up to six miles

moved from the quarry up to six miles

moved from the quarry up to six miles across uneven terrain without the

across uneven terrain without the

across uneven terrain without the benefit of large animals or the wheel

it is believed that trees could have

it is believed that trees could have been used as posts for rope systems or

been used as posts for rope systems or

been used as posts for rope systems or as rollers or levers to make sleds or

as rollers or levers to make sleds or

as rollers or levers to make sleds or even as tracts that were laid across the

even as tracts that were laid across the

even as tracts that were laid across the island virtually all of these methods

island virtually all of these methods

island virtually all of these methods would have required that the trunks were

would have required that the trunks were

would have required that the trunks were frequently replaced moai are made larger

frequently replaced moai are made larger

frequently replaced moai are made larger and larger as the centuries pass it

and larger as the centuries pass it

and larger as the centuries pass it seems like through time there was strong

seems like through time there was strong

seems like through time there was strong competition for not only building great

competition for not only building great

competition for not only building great monuments to honor the ancestors but

monuments to honor the ancestors but

monuments to honor the ancestors but also among Chiefs for prestige and

also among Chiefs for prestige and

also among Chiefs for prestige and status hundreds of statues still litter

status hundreds of statues still litter

status hundreds of statues still litter the hillside many abandoned in the

the hillside many abandoned in the

the hillside many abandoned in the process of moving or being carved frozen

process of moving or being carved frozen

process of moving or being carved frozen in time one known as El Gigante the

in time one known as El Gigante the

in time one known as El Gigante the giant would have stood over seven

giant would have stood over seven

giant would have stood over seven stories high it suggests the Islanders

stories high it suggests the Islanders

stories high it suggests the Islanders ambition may have been greater than

ambition may have been greater than

ambition may have been greater than their resources in the space of just a

their resources in the space of just a

their resources in the space of just a few centuries the trees were used up