Satellite imagery may provide a missing puzzle piece in Easter Island saga

Hundreds of stone heads on Easter Island have led to debates about the collapse of its civilization. Some experts warn of catastrophic consequences due to resource exploitation, while others argue that the islanders created a sustainable system. Recently, remote-sensing data and machine learning have provided new insights. A study suggests that Easter Island was not densely populated, making ecological collapse less likely. By using a machine learning model, researchers estimated that the island could have sustained a population of around 3,901 people through rock gardening and access to marine foods. The findings challenge previous population estimates and the idea of an ancient ecocide.