Polynesian Pioneers: Voyage to the Triangular Island

In approximately 800 A. D. a group of around forty Polynesians voyaged across the Pacific Ocean in two large double canoes. Possibly seeking new lands to settle, this small band of intrepid travelers eventually discovered a small (64 sq. mile) island that they decided to make their new home. The island they encountered was triangular shaped and offered numerous features that made it attractive for settlement. Two, out of the three volcanic craters that anchored the corners of the island, contained fresh water. In addition, the soil of the island was found to be rich and fertile and a large palm forest covered many parts of the island. The Polynesian explorers had set out from their home with an abundant supply of goods, and were ready to colonize

The isolation of Easter Island was described by Foot (2004) in these terms,

It is located in the South Pacific Ocean 3,200 km (2,200 miles) west of Chile, the South American country to which it belongs. It is 2,000 km (1,250 miles) from the nearest inhabited land of Pitcairn Island, which has a population of under 50 people. The nearest inhabited islands further to the west are the Mangarévas which are 2,500 km (1,550 miles) away and the Marquesas which are 3,200 km (2,200 miles) away (p. 12).

The reason why being isolated like this would have an impact on Easter Island culture is “Easter Island's isolation was also a factor, the researchers concluded, by making it less likely that domesticated plants could have survived the voyage. None of the most important food trees, such as breadfruit, made it to Easter Island, for example, forcing the colonists to rely on less sustainable slash-and-burn agriculture to grow bananas, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane” (Stokstad, 2004). The isolation of Easter Island contributed to the changes that were required in agricultural production. This in turn, exacerbated the inevitable collapse of the