History

Behind the great land of Easter Island and the mystical stones that border it, the history of it is what makes the island special. Easter Island is one of the most isolated places on earth. The island lies 2,250 miles northwest of Chile (Tyson). No one knows exactly how the stones and carvings got there but have an idea. Its been said since the Dutchman Jacob Roggeven, the first European known that first discovered the island was in 1722 (clark). People believe that indigenous people from east Polynesia were ones that first inhabited Easter Island. In 1994, DNA from 12 Eastern Island skeletons was found to be Polynesian (clark). Over 1500 years back a chief named Hotu Matua which means “The great parent” canoed with his wife searching for new islands to uncover. They wanted to extend there family and were willing to risk their life’s. After landing on the beach of Easter Island called “te-pito-te-henua” which means “end of the land” or “lands end”, that was what they had called it earlier in time (clark). Hopefully one day there will be enough information uncovered that someone could find out what really happened.