Easter Island Civilization Not Destroyed by War, New Evidence Shows

Thousands of small, sharp, spearlike objects scattered throughout Easter Island have long been presumed to be evidence of massive warfare that led to the demise of its ancient civilization. Easter Island is a tiny landmass located about 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) off the coast of Chile. Polynesians first arrived on the island in the 13th century, and Rapa Nui's early inhabitants were famous for the enormous stone statues (called moai) that they built and placed on the coastline.