The Mystery of Rapa Nui - What caused the fall of Easter Island?

Easter Island - or Rapa Nui as its indigenous population called it - lies thousands of miles out in the Pacific Ocean and has baffled researchers ever since it was discovered in the 17th century. Once, it was an oasis of 16 million palm trees, its coast lined by hundreds of Moai, statues of several tons each. Then, suddenly, the forest vanished, and the Moai were toppled. Why did the civilization of the enigmatic Moai perish?
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[@pacocowell1232]

no one that relies on palms for food would be dumb enough to chop them down just to get the coconuts faster. it's a ridiculous theory

[@JohnV170]

They used them for other resources too lol

[@greenbunnyinabongo7299]

Coconuts were cut in half and uses as bra’s

[@soyyeolsaucey]

@@greenbunnyinabongo7299wrong, women didn’t wear bras back then.

[@KulinBan777]

No these people are not white of course they would do something like that

[@wolflizake]

There were 16 million trees

[@vladpetric7493]

You can have multiple factors contributing to the deforestation of the island ... it really doesn't have to be one or the other.

[@PeterMilanovski]

In this case there's only one contributing factor, it's the volcano! 🌋... There's no better way to get rid of millions of trees and the people and knock down statues while burying the rest! All the rocks that you can see everywhere in the video weren't placed by humans! You can tell what is by humans, it's volcanics!

[@jw8001]

The ancestors were very intelligent people. Their understanding of land and sea was unmatched. No way they cut down 16 million trees

[@v-gc7257]

Amazing video! Still can’t figure out some of the things; but helpful indeed. Phenomenal Architectural

[@karfomachet7265]

amazing trash , the first 2 Europeans in 1722 and 1770 find the statues full erect , captain Cook finds some over thrown in 1774 but not all

[@JohnV170]

​@@karfomachet7265don't think they did find them all standing and many were torn down then too.

[@Maria-co9eg]

Giorgio Tsouklos isn't saying it was Aliens, but it was Aliens.

[@lesgrossman4636]

Great documentary on Easter Island

[@karfomachet7265]

except is wrong , the first 2 European visitors in 1722 and 1770 found the statues fully erect and captain Cook in 1774 finds some of the statues over thrown but not all

[@mariakelly90210]

We know that's you, Tom Cruise.

[@mariakelly90210]

We know that's you, Tom Cruise.

[@mariakelly90210]

Where's Giorgio from Ancient Aliens when you really need him?😉

[@s.a.m.3575]

Ok then, the message is the islanders cut down 16, 000,000 palm trees in order to access water easier and to stop draughts. Got it. Definitely the next investigation is why they didn't move their village closer to the fresh water source instead.

[@migueldospachangas7716]

Negative Sam. That's not the message . This is a multi -faceted video, encompassing many aspects of life of the people of the island. Some aspects are proven, some still without definitive answers..

[@geofflewis8599]

..probably burned, palm wood is very hard and difficult to cut..

[@marknewton6984]

Overpopulation, deforest and religious war. Sad..

[@eric-vu1jy]

A METAPHOR FOR MODERN DAY GLOBAL CIVILISATION

[@canadiankewldude]

@@eric-vu1jy For the devastation huge Corporations do to both nature and people, agreed. If you're referring to man made global destruction, then you've been indoctrinated by the propaganda.

[@GH-oi2jf]

Why hasn’t there been reforestation?

[@deanladue5367]

Much of the soil is gone. Basically the island is eroding away due to deforestation, and bare minimum vegetation. It's more or less a 500 year old man made ecological disaster. Attempts are being made to reintroduce some trees and vegetation back onto Easter Island, but it will take money and more importantly time. As some species of trees that were native to the island are extinct. The Chilean government does what can to jump start efforts, but much of the work that's been done so far has been by international non profit groups.

[@PeterMilanovski]

​@@deanladue5367 it's not a man made disaster..... This is exactly what happens when a volcano eruption occurs! You can almost directly compare this island with Pompeii.... Except here you can see the rocks that used to be lava bombs. The red rock hats on the statues are from a previous violent eruption! This is well known and understood.... The island was created by a volcano which is how people knew it was even there!

[@petarswift5089]

People don't realize that modern civilization is in the same danger on planet Earth as this island culture in the middle of the ocean was. Lessons are very important. The only way for the salvation is transhumanism and interstellar travel?!

[@rayfabian9488]

They cut down 16 million trees to make a huge boat to escape the island, but it sank hundreds of miles at sea killing all onboard.

[@raulbeienheimer]

Wait what? He uses a mobile spectroscopy device but needs a balloon instead of a drone? Lol

[@geofflewis8599]

..I think the balloon was an anchor for the drone due to the wind..

[@rnunezc.4575]

This is interesting. But, it's just theories and no facts. The palm forest could have been burned after fallen from diseases or rats infestation. Inca people did not had the balsa wood in Peru, balsa trees only grow in Ecuador coast. Peru coast Inca desert ... If Polynesian build those stone faces , we're are the tools remains. And where are the similar constructions in other areas of the Polynesian people ?.. Watch Brien Forrester's hidden Inca tours videos The Polynesians or any other people are not dumb to destroy their habitat and there is no evidence of them doing that on other islands...palm trees they knew so well and depended on them etc. A billion stones moved....several kilometers away....:) Where are the millions of rat bones remains ...?

[@susannebrunberg4174]

According to the logbook of the Dutch captain, the original people of Easter Island were not Polynesians...

[@davyngoveni1494]

I wonder if they had trolls in the past?

[@jrivers6020]

This gives too much credit to Hawaiians when in fact they aren’t even sure what type of Polynesians actually “discovered” the island

[@KickAndDestroy]

The island is so tiny. Only 163.6 km2 (63.2 sq mi)

[@johnn3542]

Quick search says some palm trees only live 40-50 years, guessing at a certain tipping point they where cut down faster than the reproduced. They couldn't just go next door for wood, and let the trees on the home island replenish itself.

[@skymaster4743]

The pre-Columbian Polynesian - South American contact theory makes perfect sense.

[@2210ihp1]

Civilisation scares me

[@YogiMcCaw]

As well it should....

[@geofflewis8599]

..Heyerdahl's hypothesis was that there were had been two cultural epochs on Easter Island, the first from South America which was then over run by people from Polynesia. What he called the 'Long Ears' and the 'Short Ears'. The stone fitting of the Vinapu wall and other stone structures is clearly South American, the scratchings of bird gods are probably Polynesian. Interestingly, No mention of the three - masted square rigged vessel carved into the belly of one of the moai on the outward slope of southern volcanic caldera which was unearthed by Heyerdahl's expedition in the '50s. Probably the moai were toppled by earthquakes..this is a volcanic island.

[@bethbartlett5692]

A word to: "Mainstream Academia/Archaeologists: I realize that the "Mainstream Academic 18th Century Theory based Paradigm and Linear Timeline" is a requirement to be "in cooperation with the Academic Circle" that allows for One's Job Security and Professional Reputation, but *You always have the security of the "Standards of Science and Research" which clearly prohibits the use of a Theory as Fact, and all of what is Integrity in One's Research, Teaching, and Writing of related materials.* I am not in a position jeopardized by my voicing of Fact based Science, "Peer Reviewed Outcomes" and "Journal Published Findings", if I were, there's little doubt that I would be Infamous among my Peers for my mind is stronger than my will and I definitely would have Reported and Stood Behind my Findings and others of "Peer Reviewed Science". Truth, Value, Integrity, and over time I have released any regard for What Others Think or Say, those whom really are of value have a Higher Mind and can discern facts, reasoning, and logic. These situations that stacked up over the 20th/21st Century, like cars in a fog and ice on I-40, have seriously hauled explorations and discoveries. But, I'm certain this has come to it's fading end, as DNA/Genetics, Geology/Geophysics, and Higher Minds all emerge with Fact Findings, Peer Reviewed Science, and more than sufficient data to *"set aside the 19th Century Darwinian Theory on Modern Humans, and the Dogma that appears in the behaviors of those whom object, when they feel threatened".* I feel certain that within the year, 2 at most, these findings I reference will have gained more findings and will be made prevalent in Science related Medias, as News Media has such little credibility, it's fine that they barely mention, or don't report actual News worthy content. Be that as it may, they (Mainstream News,) may be the next change that's brewing. There's no holding back the momentum of Mind's energies that are set towards + on a desired positive Experiencings of Facts and Freedom to Explore and Discover. There's easily as many if not more questions around the *"Why are the Mainstream Academics so resistant, and ignoring the Standards of Science and Research?" I would suggest to gain a most desirable and positive picture of your experiencing your Academic works and know it "is", cause it is coming together even as I write this comment. *I look forward to documentaries that are informing and educating all with real facts and countless new finds/discoveries, one where Archaeologists aren't weaving a modern tale, rather revealing facts determined by teams that spread over the fields that can and will bring such a higher value to the whole of Academics and with Higher Minds driving the fields.* Mark my words, it is ... Beth a Sociologist/Behavioralist and Historian February 2023

[@eric-vu1jy]

ARROGANT….!

[@RL-yu6yb]

I wander if the statues we're just made out of boredom! Not everything has to have a purpose

[@bisdakpinoy3428]

They were superstitious and commanded by the spirits to carved the statues.

[@Maria-co9eg]

The motto of this documentary: When you build Moai, it never ends well.

[@JohnV170]

🌴+🗿=💀

[@steveclark5357]

it is at the root religion that was the downfall

[@samuelreed2994]

33:00 if you look from the right angle, it's the ancient carving of a sphinx

[@brandonwilson5311]

Yes i see it! That dates back to the time of Queef Merkin... of the Shung Dung Dy-nasty. Yes.

[@ChillVanille]

15 mins in and they are revealing nothing about Easter island. Skip this one.

[@eric-vu1jy]

IGNORAMOUS….!!

[@ticababy6380]

This is to learn the lesson, stop living outside of self. Find a different way to connect.

[@RatusMax]

Let A.I. have a go at that rongo rongo language.

[@user-bp5qz5jd3f]

Nice suggestion

[@karimmaasri1723]

How a descendant of indigenous people not know what happened?? Nothing was orally transmitted between generations over such an important event?

[@ChroniclesoftheWorldPodcast]

Their oral traditions are that the moai statues walked there.

[@skymaster4743]

Polynesian oral traditions are prone to mythological exaggerations of history like most of human historical records.

[@enerikeaaratemanuc.h.3236]

We have a very rich oral tradition, which provides answers to many of the questions raised. Many archaeological works end up coinciding with what the oral tradition says. I can tell you that our family tree goes back to before the arrival of our ancestors to Rapa Nui.

[@Shayeva421]

Maybe it was a tsunami

[@kurt5893]

Now I know: if I need a coconut I fell the whole coconut tree....clever!

[@MrSmokingMachine]

i just cant sleep if i dont know the truth

[@mohammedmkhan2906]

A storm can easily destroy a coconut plantation.

[@2sik_UK]

Maybe its possible that something like the 1816 year without summer happened and it killed the trees? Or maybe the trees were burnt to fertilise the soul for food crops?

[@DawnMeow]

Seeing how the right now the volcano on the island has started a fire, im guessing maybe a fire swept thru? Idk how the statues wpuldnt have been damaged due to their makeup of volcanic ash.

[@GuinessOriginal]

No they just chopped all the trees down for resources

[@JohnV170]

Or perhaps aliens came and took down all the trees and built the stone heads? Ancient alien theorists say yes 🤪

[@geofflewis8599]

..the Year without a Summer was caused by the eruption of Mt Tambora, in Indonesia, half a world away, and you might ask why other complete forest weren't also destroyed by the same event..

[@carlovincetti4538]

I personally believe that the inhabitants on Easter Island were stranded on this planet and put the moai there to show the other inhabitants of their planet they needed rescue and to where they were.

[@marx4325]

Yeah that sounds plausible... 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@bradleywiesner3774]

Making the stone gardens created the Moai.

[@CandidDate]

Wow, those trees grow fast! Soon all of history will be so whitewashed by computer graphics that we'll likely lose track of the truth. Oh well, I didn't ask to know the why's and wherefore's of the truth. I'm just a passenger on this beautiful and glorious mysterious planet!

[@SkepticalChris]

When you see these great monuments of human beings, that they were ablet to carve and move such huge statues in such huge numbers, with only simple stone tools, without wheels or metal, it is a true testament to the achievements of our past...... ....and it is also deeply offensive how there are some, who would attribute these human achievements to the nonsense of ancient aliens, basically trying to strip credit of the Moai from the Rapa Nui people, to some beings of fiction that they invent, which is a very racist thing to do.

[@karfomachet7265]

Your video starts out simply being wrong the first Europeans to visit 1722 found the statues fully erect as did the 2nd Europeans to visit in 1770 , the 3 rd European visitors in 1774 ( Captain Cook ) found some of the statues over thrown .

[@migueldospachangas7716]

Not what I heard. In the video.

[@karfomachet7265]

@@migueldospachangas7716 u must be deaf or something

[@Oppboysdee]

I got told maoris that were tapu would get buired in rapa nui back in the days

[@paytonpryor]

Is it possible that drought and fire burned the trees?

[@clarkrichardbueno7559]

Sabi ko na nga ba, Bec of the Rodents/rats. Ive been to Chile and have accomplish a scientific Research..

[@mr.deerband]

❤❤❤

[@loisraymcinnis6006]

Caves in a paradise??? I'd say protection. Other caves; other places have other stories for protection.

[@Isabella-nh5dm]

Speculations.

[@clodionet]

it is a shame to waste research money resulting in such ridiculous and unproven theories

[@cireez]

easter island could be hawaiki, the motherland of maori people

[@maieldmik5233]

Absolutely mate.the waitaha people arrived from Rapa Nui 500years before the main migration of western Polynesians in the 13th century.they are the original tangata whenua.

[@Wildflower27823]

No sorry it's not.

[@geofflewis8599]

..Hawai-iki is a generalized name for an 'original place'..and often refers to what is now known as the Cook Islands..

[@loisraymcinnis6006]

Obviously; they had gods from the sky.

[@hs4xace]

🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿

[@HappyHibiscus-pk2et]

Yhose stayus eas roll on cocunut tree

[@Mossyz.]

Maybe it was rats that ate the roots of the trees

[@steveboy7302]

Babayan sounds Filipino not polynesian at all

[@lawrenceguerrero4732]

Waste of time...bottom line here is, We don't know.

[@loisraymcinnis6006]

The ones with their backs to the ocean were connected to mission control and wore ear phones not long ears. They lived.

[@clarkrichardbueno7559]

I guess its because of the Rodents. or ther colossal invaders cut down the palm trees.

[@gerry5134]

The look of the statues resemble ancient South American Peruvian people's

[@marknewton6984]

Yes I would give Thor Easter Island due to architecture, yams and location. A unique place. Mixed bag of settlers.

[@michaelpage7691]

As with all these documentaries, the commentator is always asking questions. It gets extremely annoying. Just state the facts, not the what if’s or how did. If the documentary is factual then all the questions should be answered without a commentator posing a question. 😡

[@mikeglenn5212]

But the fact is they don't really know. So of course it's nothing but questions. That's the great mystery of it.

[@migueldospachangas7716]

@@mikeglenn5212 Exactly. This, Mike Glenn's , is a more correct interpretation of the video. If the documetary KNEW all the facts, it could answer whatever questions posed. The video dosen't claim to know all the facts. Questions posed would still need to be posed to be answered.

[@mariakelly90210]

Michael Page, why don't YOU stop posing questions? If you get to ask questions, then so does the narrator of this documentary. That's the way the cookie bounces.

[@michaelpage7691]

@@mariakelly90210 Maria…if you read my answer, it does not ask a question. It states a fact!

[@mariakelly90210]

@@michaelpage7691 And I stand by my comment. Live Long And Prosper 🖖

[@loisraymcinnis6006]

Rats called zabootie.

[@Matt-yu8xc]

"discovered in the 17th century"? It's 2023 and we still talk like this?

[@leskuzyk2425]

Terrible introductory overview ... very poor information ... not worth watching.

[@get.factual]

Too bad

[@kananaskiscountry8191]

they could have been wiped out because of the asteroid that went in the ground/ water in central America = that was suppose to have wiped out the dinosaurs == 🤔🤔🌋🌋 - kind of like a wave over the land and water - the impact was great around the world

[@3000yearslater]

Why? The white man is why

[@karfomachet7265]

when the first white men visited in 1722 there were no trees so u can not blame that on whites and this video is wrong the first 2 European visitors in 1722 and 1770 find the statues fully erect .

[@albinakemet2728]

No whites are not why do not blame whites for your problems ,issues ,woes ,plight .