Thanks to its geography, the southeastern Pacific island of Rapa Nui — also known as Easter Island — has been in the center of a long-running debate about how early people may have sailed back and forth across the planet's biggest ocean. One theory suggested that, long before Europeans arrived, the island was a meeting point for Polynesians and Native Americans. Spoiler alert: a new study of ancient DNA from early residents of Rapa Nui says otherwise.
Easter Island, known for its moai — massive human figures erected all over the small island — has long held fascination for travelers and researchers alike. Archaeological evidence suggests that the island was first settled by Polynesians, perhaps less than a millennium ago. Europeans didn't show up until 1722, and the centuries between the arrival of its first residents — known as Rapanui — and a ship of Dutch explorers have held particular interest for scientists studying human migration.
