"Obsidian Blades Uncover 1000-Year-Old Contact Between Rapa Nui Settlers and South Americans"

A new study reveals that the first settlers of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, had regular contact with South Americans 1,000 years ago, as evidenced by starch grains found on obsidian blades at the archaeological site of Anakena. The findings suggest that the early Polynesians had a fusion cuisine of plants native to Polynesia and South America, indicating sustained interaction between the two populations nearly a millennium ago. This research contributes new information to the ongoing discussion of Rapa Nui prehistory, shedding light on the island's early settlement and its connections to South America.