Rapa Nui's Obsidian Blades: Evidence of Early Contact with South America

Archaeologists studying obsidian blades on Rapa Nui have found evidence that the island's early settlers had contact with South America, as indicated by the presence of starch grains from South American plants. The findings suggest that the islanders made voyages to South America, bringing back novel foodstuffs that influenced the island's agricultural landscape. This discovery challenges the long-held belief of Rapa Nui's isolation and supports the oral histories of the Rapu Nui people recounting voyages to South America during the island's early settlement phase.