Ancient CivilizationsRapa Nui Was NOT as Isolated As Previously Thought Posted on July 25, 2025 by Administrator For decades, archaeologists have painted a picture of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) as the ultimate frontier of Polynesian civilization – a remote outpost that developed in complete isolation after its initial settlement around 1200 AD. This narrative has dominated Pacific archaeology, portraying the island’s famous moai statues and ceremonial complexes as the products of a society cut off from the wider Polynesian world.
