[ExI] Genetic Evidence Overrules Ecocide Theory of Easter Island

[Dan TheBookMan]

On Sep 11, 2024, at 12:25 PM, Keith Henson <hkeithhenson at gmail.com> wrote:
> The problem with "debunking" is that the story just makes sense.  It's
> no problem at all to generate a math model that fits the observed
> facts, such as the destruction of trees, the known facts like the
> abrupt end of making the statues, and the relatively small population
> the Europeans encountered.
> 
> But what do I know?
> 
> Keith

Well, how do you know there was a huge population there to begin with? I recall someone (you?) here stating there were 20,000 people on the island. But estimates based on archaeological data seem to place the highest population level well under 10,000 and probably something like 4,000 at its height.

There’s also no evidence of a collapse through violence — much less a collapse through ecological catastrophe. Yes, the rats probably ate up young trees and the islanders were trapped them and then wiped out local ground birds, but they adapted. It appears the Rapa Nuians were steadily growing in population until Europeans showed up and started raising for slaves and spreading diseases that the islanders had little resistance to. So what data do you have to support your view?

Regards,

Dan