Oct 27, 2015
This episode expands on our
Easter Island subject guide, and critiques how most textbooks deal
with its history. This remote locale is famous for its mysterious
moai, the massive stone heads which have become iconic for the
hubris of its inhabitants. Flenley and Bahn, along with Jared
Diamond, suggest the island was deforested in order to build these
statues, leading to starvation and cannibalism. However, Hunt and
Lipo argue that the island was deforested by a far less
intimidating creature, and present a much more hopeful narrative
from Easter Island’s past. Recommended books
are:
Dave – Kirch, On the Road of the
Winds
Matt
– Matsuda, Pacific Worlds