The people who disappeared 160 years ago on Easter Island are becoming more and more strange

160 years ago, a mysterious people disappeared on Easter Island. And after many years, that mystery became more and more strange.

"What happened on Easter Island?" is a question that has been repeated by the scientific community for centuries.

For those who do not know, this is a very famous island located in the Southeast Pacific, and is also one of the world heritage recognized by UNESCO. The island used to be a place where people lived very prosperously, but about 160 years ago suddenly became clean, no trace. So far, the solution has not been found.

In fact, there was a time when it seemed that all had been answered, when the theory of an island "self-destruction" hypothesis - an act of devastating nature that could not be recovered - was expert acceptance. However, a study in July 2017 rejected this hypothesis, making the story a big question mark.

The famous rock heads of Easter Island.

And now with another study, experts are making the story more complicated, but also closer to the solution.

Back in the past, when the Dutch set foot on the island in 1722, they estimated the population to fall between 1,500 and 3,000 people. This is a very modest number, if compared to the number of famous island giants ' rock at the time.

But according to a new study, based on the latest calculations on the island's geographical situation, experts say the number is actually much larger, up to 17,500.

"Although almost isolated, Easter Islanders have created a rather complex social system," said Dr Cedric Puleston of the University of California (Davis).

"We have deciphered a part of the mystery - about the actual number of people on Easter Island before it collapsed. Research shows that the island can accommodate up to 17,500 people in its heyday."

Specifically, the research team tried to test the island's production potential. Accordingly, 19% of the island area may have been used to grow sweet potatoes - the main food of the islanders. Then learn to look at birth / death rates based on food supply, and give a specific number.

Obviously, there must be a large-scale event that has taken place, which humans are currently unable to decipher.

"If we try to compare it with other islands, we will see a 17,500 figure that is extremely reasonable."

But more importantly, if the population is missing up to 17,500 people, that would be a very different picture from the fact that about 3,000 suddenly disappeared. Obviously, there must be a large-scale event that has taken place, which humans are currently unable to decipher.

However, Puleston felt very optimistic."This is a real place, and there are people who live. Unraveling the mystery, the mysteries will bring us closer to the nature of human development."