Interrelation of Prehistoric Wells, Groundwater Resources, and Statues on Easter Island Imply Intrinsic Understanding of Natural Landscape by Rapanui People
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Date
2016-06
Authors
Trush, Sadie
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Commonly overlooked in the numerous narratives of Easter Island's mystery is
the most critical resource to human beings: freshwater. Recent field research on the
Island focused on sea ramps and puna (archaeological well features) that may have
allowed the prehistoric Rapanui people to obtain this essential resource. A drone with a
high-resolution camera and a Trimble GPS unit were used to create 3-dimensional
reconstructions of the sea ramps and puna; and an extensive on-site survey of the
coastline was conducted to identify traces of freshwater at the marine interface. These
two data sets were geographically compared with previously mapped locations ofmoai
(statues) and ahu (statue platforms). The puna are found within 50 meters of a moai or
ahu presentation. Additionally, in these areas fresh, potable groundwater seeps into the
sea. This correlation of puna, potable water, and ahu with moai suggests a connection
between resource use and moai placement, challenging previous beliefs that moai were
merely 70-ton manifestations of ancestor worship. For a culture that has been
previously portrayed as an example of "ecocide," the Rapanui may actually provide a
template for the modem world of how to live in equilibrium with the environment and its resources. In the face of current global resource shortages, including freshwater, their
prehistoric population and resource management strategies should not be viewed as a
cautionary guide, but as a lesson to avoid our own demise.
Description
48 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Environmental Science and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Science, Spring 2016.
Keywords
Easter Island Freshwater, Anthropology, Polynesia, Prehistoric Wells, Rapa Nui, Groundwater, Puna, Ecocide