A photo from open sources Rapa Nui – volcanic island origin area of 170 square meters. kilometers, on which practically no trees. It is considered the most secluded inhabited island in the world. (Although the islanders call their island Rapa Nui and themselves Rapanui, the island is better known as Easter Island, and its inhabitants called Easter eggs.) The whole island is declared historic monument, what he owes, in particular, to stone statues, which called moai. These statues are the fruit of the once-blooming labor civilization. Moai carved from volcanic rocks. Some moai only a huge head sticks out of the ground, while others are visible above the ground and torso, and the third “flaunt” a stone hairstyle, which called pucao. The vast majority of statues are unfinished in quarries or along ancient roads, as if the workers simply dropped their tools and left. The rest of the statues are back to the ocean, alone or in rows in which There are up to 15 statues. It’s clear that moai have long been occupy the minds of visitors to the island. In recent years, scientists came close to unraveling not only the secrets of the moai, but also why the once highly developed civilization that created them has disappeared. Interesting, that the facts that scientists establish are not only historical meaning. The Encyclopedia Britannica says that these data teach an “important lesson to the modern world.” This is a lesson of how to handle the Earth, especially its natural resources. Of course, the Earth is much more complex and biologically diverse structure than a tiny islet. But it is not means you can neglect the lesson that teaches us Rapa Nui. The history of Rapa Nui begins around 400 BC. e., when the first family sailed to the island on large ocean pies settlers. The only witnesses to this were hundreds of marine birds that circled over their heads. The island could not boast a wide variety of vegetation, but there were forests on it, which grew palm trees, Pau-Pau and Toromiro trees, as well as shrubs, ferns and grasses. On this distant piece of sushi at least six species of forest birds, including owls, herons, shepherdesses and parrots. Discovery magazine says that the island of Rapa Nui was also “the largest bird market in Polynesia, and maybe throughout the Pacific. “Perhaps the colonists brought to the island of chickens and edible rats that were considered among them a delicacy. They brought also agricultural plants: taro, yams, yam, bananas and sugarcane. The soil on the island was fertile, so they immediately began to clear the fields and sow them. This process went on as the population grew. islands. But Rapa Nui was not endless. And although it was lush forests, yet the number of trees was limited. Source of our Information about the history of Rapa Nui is mainly served by three sciences: polynology, archeology and paleontology. For pollen analysis polynologists take samples of pollen buried in sediment strata in swamps and ponds. From these samples, you can find out which plants how many bloomed here for hundreds of years. Samples taken from deeper sedimentary layers, represent earlier periods of time. Archaeologists and paleontologists explore surviving buildings, household utensils, moai, and also the remains of animals whom consumed as food. Since the chronicles of the Rapanui people are written hieroglyphics that are difficult to decipher all dates preceding contact time between islanders and Europeans established approximately and many assumptions are impossible to prove. Besides In addition, some of the events listed below may overlap time. 400 BC e. 20 to 50 land on the island Polynesian settlers. They are probably sailing on large 15 meter pies suitable for going out into the ocean and capable of carry goods over 8 tons. 800 year n. e. In sediment the amount of tree pollen decreases. This means that on the island is cut down forest. The amount of grass pollen increases, so how some areas cleared of forest are overgrown with grass. 900-1300 year. About a third of the bones left from animals whose meat ate during this period, make up the bones of dolphins. To catch dolphins in the open ocean, islanders use big cakes, which are made from the trunks of palm trees. Trees also serve as the basis. devices with which they move and lift into Moai, erected at this time in large quantities. People are increasingly engaged in agriculture and firewood is being prepared, thereby continuing to destroy forests. 1200-1500 year. The construction of statues in their prime. All resources and powers the islanders aimed at creating moai and ceremonial platforms, on which they are installed. Obviously, the moai statues were not worshiped, although they played a role in burial rites and in ceremonies related to agriculture. Perhaps they were considered habitation of spirits. It seems that they also symbolized power, position and genealogy of those who built them. 1400-1600 year. The population reaches a maximum: from 7 to 9 thousand people. Disappear last sections of the forest. This is partly due to the extinction of forest birds that pollinated trees and carried seeds. Extinction rats contributed to the forests. Evidence found that they eat palm nuts. Soil erosion begins, rivers dry up, do not enough water. In sediment strata dating to around 1500, bones of dolphins disappear. Perhaps the island is left trees suitable for the construction of large oceanic pie. The islanders can no longer leave the island. People do not start grab food and they exterminate seabirds. People eat more hens. 1600-1722 year. Lack of forests, rural expansion farms and soil depletion are increasingly leading to crop failures. Famine begins. Rapanuytsy are divided into two warring groupings. The first signs of social chaos appear, perhaps even cannibalism. The law of power rules the island. Seeking to secure themselves, people move to live in caves. Population rapidly falls, and around 1700 the island remains only about 2 thousand people. 1722 year. Dutch sailor Jacob Roggeven becomes the first European to discover the island. it occurs on Easter, hence the name of the island. Roggeven writes: “The general desert view gave the impression of extreme poverty and barrenness. “1770. Around this time, rival clans the surviving Rapanuiites begin to overturn the statues, set by competitors. When in 1774 the island visits English navigator, captain James Cook, he sees that many the statues are felled. 1804-1863 year. The number of contacts is increasing islanders with other civilizations. Slavery prevalent in this time in the pacific countries and diseases take a lot of human lives. The traditional culture of the Rapanuiites disappears. 1864 year. TO the last moai was overturned by this time, for many statues intentionally splinters of the head. 1872 year. Only 111 indigenous people remain on the island residents. In 1888, the island of Rapa Nui was annexed to Chile. IN Currently, about 2100 people live on the island: indigenous islanders and immigrants. Chilean government announced the whole island historical monument. To preserve unique features and history islands, many statues were reinstalled. Why aren’t Rapanui understood where they were going and didn’t try to prevent a catastrophe? That’s what scientists say about it. “The forest did not disappear all of a sudden; he decreased gradually, for decades. Even if someone from islanders and tried to warn fellow tribesmen about what is fraught the destruction of the forest, its warning was neglected, because it affected the selfish interests of sculptors, rulers and their minions “(” Discover “).” The way they are in this island world decided to express their spiritual and political ideas, turned island in a miserable semblance of what it was originally “(” Easter Island – Archaeology, Ecology, and Culture “).” What happened on Rapa Nui, meant that uncontrolled population growth and aspiration manage environmental resources, going over a certain critical points were not just signs of the industrialization of the world; this is a characteristic feature of man “(” National Geographic “). But what, if this so-called characteristic of a person is not will change? What if people continue to contribute to creating Earth – on this island in the ocean of space – unbearable from the point view of the ecology of living conditions? According to one scientist, we have a huge advantage over the Rapanui: warning examples of the “history of fallen civilizations.” However, the question remains: Do people learn anything from history? Judging by the fact that on Earth with at an alarming speed, forests are being destroyed and living creatures are dying, – not. Linda Kebner writes in the Book of Zoos: “The disappearance one, two or fifty species will lead to such consequences, which we cannot imagine. Extinction entails changes before we even realize the consequences. “In the book “Easter Island – Earth Island” there are startling words: “One who cut down the last tree, saw that it was the last. But he is everything He cut it down. ”
Dolphins Easter Island Easter Island Birds Plants
