what destroyed the civilisation of easter island?

The Easter Islanders are famous for their giant carved statues, called Moai. These monuments were believed to be built around 1250 CE and represent deified ancestors of the 1st Polynesian settlers. Over 800 of these monumental creations have been found scattered throughout the island, most of them inside hidden caves that were sealed off by debris once they fell or were pushed over.

What many people don’t know is that this civilization came to an abrupt end after centuries of prosperity and apparent tranquility (apart from a few wars). What was the reason? One explanation points at ecological disaster; deforestation leading to soil erosion, depletion of natural resources to support the growing population (leading to warfare) and even cannibalism massive crop failures brought about significant changes in the society and eventually, in 1700 CE it was abandoned for ever.

Another theory states that the civilization had to be destroyed by invaders from another island. Human bones with marks of violence were discovered in an old house on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), suggesting that the island was once invaded by a more warlike society, which brought about their downfall.

Combining these two ideas yields a somewhat discouraging prediction: human activity is the primary cause behind climate change and environmental degradation, which can lead to wars fought over resources, followed by invasion by a more powerful army – sound familiar? The only option left for this newer civilization is to repeat history – literally.