Shock new theory about Easter Island heads could rewrite history of iconic human-like statues
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A new theory about who built the iconic human-like figures on Easter Island has sent shockwaves through the archaeological community. Most historians agree that the stone structures were constructed by Polynesians around 900 years ago. However, Graham Hancock, a British writer and explorer, claims they are more than 11,000 years old.
![[Mr Hancock pointed to the positioning of the heads on the island, saying some were on platforms while others appeared to be scattered at random. He used this to suggest some may have been moved at a later date]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/22/20/92306079-14045481-Mr_Hancock_pointed_to_the_positioning_of_the_heads_on_the_island-a-25_1732307692416.jpg)
Easter Island is home to approximately 1,000 large stone heads, known as Moai, scattered across the island. Hancock argues that the island was settled, and the statues were built about 12,000 years ago, with a population remaining on the island to eventually meet the Polynesians.
![[The above is a map of the positions of the stone heads on Rapa Nui. Mr Hancock pointed out how some were on stone platforms while others were spread seemingly at random]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/06/16/92306575-14045481-The_above_is_a_map_of_the_positions_of_the_stone_heads_on_Rapa_N-a-20_1733501436612.jpg)
His theory is based on a study suggesting banana plants were present on Easter Island at least 3,000 years ago. He uses this to argue that the plants—and a pre-existing population—arrived 12,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age. 'What I am suggesting is that the Polynesians encountered a pre-existing population on that island, evidenced by those banana [remains]... present there at least 3,000 years ago,' he told DailyMail.com.
![[Easter Island vs Marquessa Islands: The statue on the left is on Easter Island and on the right is from the Marquessa Island, about 3,600 kilometers away. Archaeologists said the two were similar. The statue on the right is dated to about 1,000 years ago, and archaeologists say the one on the left is around 600 years old]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/22/20/92306815-14045481-A_statue_on_Easter_Island-a-29_1732307692727.jpg)
'And that from that pre-existing population, they inherited the older traditions and songs that we see today.'. Hancock also proposes that the statues on Easter Island are likely much older than the platforms—called Ahu Vinapu—on which many of them sit, pointing out that the two feature different construction techniques.
![[The above shows a stone figure in Raivavae, Polynesia. The picture was taken between 1913 and 1915]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/22/20/92304663-14045481-The_above_shows_a_stone_figure_in_Raivavae_Polynesia_The_picture-a-27_1732307692719.jpg)
