Rapa Nui farmers spread broken volcanic rock to build gardens that held moisture and sheltered plants. A 2024 study used satellite imagery and machine learning to measure all rock gardens on the island, finding they total about 3/4 of a square kilometer, roughly a fifth of earlier farmland estimates. This suggests a peak population of only 3,000–4,000 people, close to the ~3,000 Roggeveen's crew counted when they arrived in 1722.
2024 satellite survey of rock gardens revises Easter Island population downward
ChileRemote SensingNew Research
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Key facts
- Rapa Nui farmers used rock gardens, spreading broken volcanic rock to hold moisture and shelter plants
- In 2024, satellite imagery and machine learning were used to measure total rock garden coverage
- All rock gardens on the island together cover about 3/4 of a square kilometer
- This is roughly a fifth of earlier careful estimates of farmland
- Best population estimate based on farmland is around 3,000 to 4,000 people
- When Roggeveen's ships arrived in 1722, they counted roughly 3,000 inhabitants
- Older estimates of 15,000 to 30,000 people are now considered inflated
Sources
pbs.org
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nationalgeographic.com
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eisp.org
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penguin.co.uk
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