The people of Rapa Nui branched off the Polynesian civilization centuries ago. Similar to their ancestors, they were expert sea travelers who understood the ocean in all its complexity. Having arrived at one of the most isolated islands on Earth, Rapa Nui was able to settle there and establish a thriving civilization. The famous mo’ai statues have become a monument of these people’s wit, strength, and prosperity. However, as most thriving civilizations do, Rapa Nui society’s peak was followed by its imminent decline. Archaeological findings suggest that by the 17th century Easter Island entered a severe crisis, which entailed the collapse of this capable civilization. As inferred from excavations, Rapa Nui eventually suffered from a shortage of resources, and it is assumed that the mo’ai had a role in it.
Erecting colossal statues was a costly endeavor for a society with limited resources. At the same, despite the immense spiritual significance of the mo’ai, they served no practical purpose while consuming the island’s resources. Pollen analysis of the Easter Island indicated the former presence of a highly durable certain palm tree variety, which is now extinct in this area. It is supposed that the trunks of these trees were used in transporting the mo’ai to their sacred sports. As the construction of the monuments increased, Rapa Nui shortly exhausted their reserves of vegetation. Consequently, there was a serious shortage of food and construction materials combined with overpopulation. The Rapa Nui society became divided amid the fight for resources, which instigated the inevitable decline of a once-thriving civilization.