Easter Island not destroyed by war, analysis of 'spear points' shows

[Billk]

Easter Island not destroyed by war, analysis of 'spear points' shows
February 16, 2016

http://phys.org/news/2016-02-easter-island-war-analysis-spear.html

Analysis of artifacts found on the shores of Rapa Nui, Chile (Easter
Island) originally thought to be used as spear points reveal that
these objects were likely general purpose tools instead, providing
evidence contrary to the widely held belief that the ancient
civilization was destroyed by warfare.

According to Carl Lipo, professor of anthropology at Binghamton
University and lead on the study, the traditional story for Rapa Nui
holds that the people, before Europeans arrived, ran out of resources
and, as a result, engaged in massive in-fighting, which led to their
collapse. One of the pieces of evidence used to support this theory is
the thousands of obsidian, triangular objects found on the surface,
known as mata'a. Because of their large numbers and because they're
made of sharp glass, many believe the mata'a to be the weapons of war
that the ancient inhabitants of the island used for interpersonal
violence.

Lipo and his team analyzed the shape variability of a photo set of
400-plus mata'a collected from the island using a technique known as
morphometrics, which allowed them to characterize the shapes in a
quantitative manner. Based on the wide variability in shape of the
mata'a and their difference from other traditional weapons, the team
determined that the mata'a were not used in warfare after all, as they
would have made poor weapons.
-----------
According to Lipo, this evidence strongly supports the idea that the
ancient civilization never experienced this oft-theorized combat and
warfare, and that the belief that the mata'a were weapons used in the
collapse of the civilization is really a late European interpretation
of the record, not an actual archeological event.

"What people traditionally think about the island is being this island
of catastrophe and collapse just isn't true in a pre-historic sense.
Populations were successful and lived sustainably on the island up
until European contact," said Lipo.

==============


BillK

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[Garrison Hilliard]

Post by Billk
Easter Island not destroyed by war, analysis of 'spear points' shows
Easter Island not destroyed by war, analysis of 'spear points' shows
February 16, 2016
http://phys.org/news/2016-02-easter-island-war-analysis-spear.html
Analysis of artifacts found on the shores of Rapa Nui, Chile (Easter
Island) originally thought to be used as spear points reveal that
these objects were likely general purpose tools instead, providing
evidence contrary to the widely held belief that the ancient
civilization was destroyed by warfare.
According to Carl Lipo, professor of anthropology at Binghamton
University and lead on the study, the traditional story for Rapa Nui
holds that the people, before Europeans arrived, ran out of resources
and, as a result, engaged in massive in-fighting, which led to their
collapse. One of the pieces of evidence used to support this theory is
the thousands of obsidian, triangular objects found on the surface,
known as mata'a. Because of their large numbers and because they're
made of sharp glass, many believe the mata'a to be the weapons of war
that the ancient inhabitants of the island used for interpersonal
violence.
Lipo and his team analyzed the shape variability of a photo set of
400-plus mata'a collected from the island using a technique known as
morphometrics, which allowed them to characterize the shapes in a
quantitative manner. Based on the wide variability in shape of the
mata'a and their difference from other traditional weapons, the team
determined that the mata'a were not used in warfare after all, as they
would have made poor weapons.
-----------
According to Lipo, this evidence strongly supports the idea that the
ancient civilization never experienced this oft-theorized combat and
warfare, and that the belief that the mata'a were weapons used in the
collapse of the civilization is really a late European interpretation
of the record, not an actual archeological event.
"What people traditionally think about the island is being this island
of catastrophe and collapse just isn't true in a pre-historic sense.
Populations were successful and lived sustainably on the island up
until European contact," said Lipo.
==============
BillK
_______________________________________________
Skeptix mailing list
http://lists.opn.org/mailman/listinfo/skeptix_lists.opn.org

New research conducted on artifacts from Easter Island is questioning the
theory that the ancient civilization there was destroyed by warfare.

Experts from Binghamton University studied hundreds of ancient items found
on the shores of Easter Island, which is also known as Rapa Nui.
Previously, the artifacts were thought to be spear points, but analysis
reveals that they were likely general purpose tools.

Carved from obsidian, or volcanic glass, thousands of the triangular
objects, known as mata'a, litter the surface of the island.

Related: Amateur archaeologist discovers lost Spanish settlement in
Florida Panhandle

‘We found that when you look at the shape of these things, they just don't
look like weapons at all," explained Carl Lipo, professor of anthropology
at Binghamton University and study lead, in a press release. "When you can
compare them to European weapons or weapons found anywhere around the
world when there are actually objects used for warfare, they're very
systematic in their shape. They have to do their job really well. Not
doing well is risking death."



Lipo and his team analyzed "the shape variability" of a photo set of over
400 mata'a.

"You can always use something as a spear. Anything that you have can be a
weapon,” said Lipo. “But under the conditions of warfare, weapons are
going to have performance characteristics. And they're going to be very
carefully fashioned for that purpose because it matters...You would cut
somebody [with a mata'a], but they certainly wouldn't be lethal in any
way."

Related: Ancient Roman brooch contains 'lovely' palindrome

Some scientists have estimated, that, at its height, Easter Island’s
population may have been as high as 20,000, but fell over centuries after
the island’s trees and palms were cut down to build canoes and transport
its famous giant statues. One theory suggests that the deforestation led
to soil erosion, impacting the island’s ability to support wildlife and
farming, and the collapse of its civilization.

When the Dutch arrived at the island in 1722, its population was 3,000 or
less. Only 111 inhabitants were living on Easter Island by 1877.

Other experts, however, have questioned whether Easter Island ever
supported a large population, citing instead the arrival of Europeans, who
brought diseases and took islanders away as slaves.

Related: Ancient 4,500-year-old boat discovered in Egypt

"What people traditionally think about the island is being this island of
catastrophe and collapse just isn't true in a pre-historic sense,” said
Lipo. “Populations were successful and lived sustainably on the island up
until European contact.”

The Binghamton University study was published in the journal Antiquity.


http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/02/17/easter-islands-ancient-civilization-was-not-destroyed-by-warfare-experts-say.html?intcmp=ob_article_footer_text&intcmp=obnetwork



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