In the heart of the Pacific Ocean, over 2,000 miles from the nearest continental landmass,

lies one of the world's most iconic archaeological treasure troves.

They're on Rappanui, known to the outside world as Easter Island.

Now most of us are familiar with the towering stone faces of the moai

that gaze inland across that wind-swept volcanic landscape.

These giant monolithic figures are the last centenels of a once-thriving society.

Rappanoi was first settled by Polynesians about a thousand years ago,

after one of the greatest voyages of discovery in history.

But it then became isolated from the rest of the world, and in isolation, those settlers built

a rich and complex culture. It was rooted in ancestor worship, astronomy and ritual.

But then something happened. The forests vanished. The moai were toppled.

And for centuries, the collapse of the society has been the subject of really fierce debate.

Was it an ecological catastrophe brought on by the people, by deforestation, by overpopulation?

Or is there a more nuanced story of resilience and adaptation in the face of outside interference,

contact with the rest of the world?

Joining me down Dan Snow's history to explore the island's extraordinary past.

We've got James Grant Peter King.

He's a cultural historian, someone who's lived and worked on the island for over 20 years.

You can watch this episode on our YouTube channel.

Every Friday, we release a new filmed episode.

You can find a link in our show notes.

But for those of you sticking with audio only,

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