The story of population decline, ecological devastation and societal destruction on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, has long been used as a cautionary tale against the over exploitation of natural resources.
But in the past 50 years many archaeologists have rejected the collapse theory and now new evidence using ancient DNA points to there being no 'ecocide' on the remote Pacific Island.
Dr Lisa Matisoo-Smith is a professor of biological anthropology at the University of Otago whose work focuses on the ancient DNA of people, plants and animals to help understand Pacific settlement.
She joins Emile Donovan to help explain the research and what it tells us about the story of Rapa Nui and its people.
Moai stone statues on Rapa Nui Easter Island, 3700km off the Chilean coast in the Pacific Ocean, on 5 August, 2022. Photo: AFP/ Pablo Cozzaglio
