Rapa Nui's Obsidian Blades: Evidence of Early Contact with South America
TL;DR
Archaeologists studying obsidian blades on Rapa Nui have found evidence that the island's early settlers had contact with South America, as indicated by the presence of starch grains from South American plants. The findings suggest that the islanders made voyages to South America, bringing back novel foodstuffs that influenced the island's agricultural landscape. This discovery challenges the long-held belief of Rapa Nui's isolation and supports the oral histories of the Rapu Nui people recounting voyages to South America during the island's early settlement phase.
Topics:sciencearchaeology#archaeological-discovery#archaeology#obsidian-blades#polynesia#rapa-nui#south-america
- Rapa Nui Obsidian Discovery: Did the Islanders sail to America? Ancient Origins
- Obsidian blades with food traces reveal 1st settlers of Rapa Nui had regular contact with South Americans 1000 years ago Livescience.com
- Early Settlers of Rapa Nui Had Contact With South America Archaeology Magazine
- Plant material on obsidian blades on Rapa Nui suggests settlers there visited South America and returned Phys.org
- Obsidian Blades From Rapa Nui Reveal Evidence Of South American Foods All That's Interesting
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