article is devoted to the well-known Easter Island which is known for the stone embodiments to Moai. The island is covered a set of secrets and riddles which hardly ever will manage to be solved. There is a set of theories of emergence of these statues created by an ancient civilization of Rapa Nui, the most widespread theories will be considered in article.
Easter Island - one of the most isolated islands in the world since 1200 years ago ancient researchers on a canoe came here, and these coast occupied. Throughout centuries in isolation of the island the unique civilization which for the unknown reasons began to cut out huge statues from volcanic breed was created. These known statues as Moai – some of the most amazing ancient monuments ever found. People of the island named themselves Rapa Nui, but from where they came and where disappeared – it is unknown. Science many theories about a riddle of Easter Island move forward, but all of them contradict each other, and the truth is unknown to this day.
Modern scientists consider that the separate group of residents of Polynesia who after colonization of the island tore off all contacts with the homeland was the population of the island. In 1722, for the first day of Easter the Dutch traveler Jacob Roggewen became the first European whose leg stepped into this island. Jacob's diaries and his satellites cause a huge controversy and the debate on emergence of a civilization of Rapa Nui. In them it is told about the mixed population of the island, here were both black, and people with light skin. Some even had red hair and suntanned faces. These facts reject the so-called Polynesian version of origin of local community, despite old certificates which confirm migration from other islands in the Pacific Ocean. Therefore scientists still discuss the theory of the famous archeologist and traveler Tura of Heyerdal.
In the researches Heyerdal describes islanders who were divided into several classes. White-skinned carried big disks in ear lobes. Their bodies were covered a set of tattoos, and they worshipped huge statues, performing rituals before them. The archeologist considers that Easter Island was populated in several stages with two absolutely different cultures. One culture was from Polynesia, other of South America, it is possible from Peru. Heyerdal also pays attention to common features of statues of Moai with similar monuments in Bolivia. According to its theory thousands years ago people already developed the ocean, and traveled on big canoes on huge distances.
Many modern archeologists categorically do not agree with Heyerdal. They point to a long story of dwelling of Polynesians in the South Pacific region. According to legends of Easter Island, the population of this island appeared from the western islands. Besides, botanical and anthropometrical researches confirm that the island was colonized only once.
Quite recently there was also the third version. According to this version, in 1536 the Spanish San Lesmems ship disappeared near coast of Tahiti. The set of legends says that the fallen-down seamen from it sudnavstupit in marriage with Polynesian women. What is interesting, genetic testing showed presence of the Spanish genes at remains of settlers Rapa Nui.
Each of these versions has the right for existence. Of course, in several decades more modern science will give us definite answer whom were Rapa Nui. They constructed highly organized society on the small island, and for short time of the existence created a riddle which puzzled the whole world and is not solved still.