Rapa Nui (Easter Island): settlement, moai construction, and social change (c. 1200–1722 CE)

1. Initial Polynesian settlement established on Rapa Nui

   Jan 1, 1200Labels: Polynesian settlers, Rapa Nui

   • Science PubMed
   • Quat Sci Rev

2. Early ecological impacts begin soon after colonization

   Jan 1, 1200Labels: Deforestation, Rapa Nui

   • Quat Sci Rev
   • Cambridge Core

3. Quarrying and carving intensify at Rano Raraku

   Jan 1, 1300Labels: Rano Raraku, Moai quarry

   • Rano Raraku
   • British Museum

4. Ahu and moai construction expands across the island

   Jan 1, 1350Labels: Ahu platforms, Moai

   • British Museum
   • Nature CEE

5. Ahu construction peaks in mid-late precontact centuries

   Jan 1, 1400Labels: Ahu construction, Precontact period

   • Nature CEE

6. Moai carving continues over multiple centuries at Rano Raraku

   Jan 1, 1450Labels: Rano Raraku, Moai carving

   • Rano Raraku

7. Environmental constraints and drought pressures intensify

   Jan 1, 1550Labels: Drought, Environmental stress

   • Quat Sci Rev
   • Nature CEE

8. Activity shifts toward Rano Kao and Orongo area

   Jan 1, 1600Labels: Rano Kao, Orongo

   • Nature CEE
   • Orongo

9. Birdman ceremonial system becomes prominent at Orongo

   Jan 1, 1700Labels: Orongo, Tangata manu

   • Orongo

10. Moai toppling accelerates during late precontact conflicts

    Jan 1, 1700Labels: Moai toppling, Civil wars

    • Ahu Tongariki

11. First recorded European contact under Jacob Roggeveen

    Apr 5, 1722Labels: Jacob Roggeveen, European contact

    • Roggeveen
    • Easter Island

12. Debate grows over “warfare collapse” interpretations

    Feb 16, 2016Labels: Obsidian mata, Scholarly debate

    • ScienceDaily
    • ScienceNews