Model of Easter Island Collapse Might Reveal Message for Today

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Graphs based on the researchers model showing the population (top) and resources (bottom). The decline of resources coincides with a sharp population increase followed by a sharp decrease. Image credit: M. Bologna and J. C. Flores.
Graphs based on the researchers’ model, showing the population (top) and resources (bottom). The decline of resources coincides with a sharp population increase, followed by a sharp decrease. Image credit: M. Bologna and J. C. Flores.

When a thriving civilization suddenly collapses, it’s often a mystery – and an ominous one, at that. For Easter Island circa 1000-1400 AD, experts believe it was a case of humans overexploiting their natural resources – mostly, the palm tree. But exactly where did the culturally rich Rapanui society go too far?


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