Easter Island Origins Preview
Preview: Season 51 Episode 2 | 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Surprising new evidence is rewriting the story of the giant stone heads of Easter Island.
How were Easter Island’s giant stone heads made? New research challenges the idea that their construction led to environmental and social collapse – and uncovers surprising clues about the origins, innovations, and resilience of the Rapanui people.
National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.
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Easter Island Origins Preview
Preview: Season 51 Episode 2 | 30sVideo has Closed Captions
How were Easter Island’s giant stone heads made? New research challenges the idea that their construction led to environmental and social collapse – and uncovers surprising clues about the origins, innovations, and resilience of the Rapanui people.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(dramatic music) - [Narrator] Easter Island, its giant Moai statues inspire wonder.
- Moais are incredible.
(drone whirring) (dramatic music) - [Narrator] Can new research finally reveal the truth?
- [Interviewee] It's amazing.
- [Narrator] Behind these iconic statues and the people who built them?
- Scientists are helping to show the real history.
- [Narrator] "Easter Island Origins" on Nova.
(dramatic music)
How Ancient Easter Island statues “walked”
Video has Closed Captions
These giant stone heads were not dragged on sleds, as once thought. (2m 17s)
What really led to the collapse of Easter Island?
Video has Closed Captions
What happened to the Rapa Nui civilization is shrouded in mystery. (2m 58s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.