The Survival of Easter Island - Dwindling Resources and Cultural Resilience (Hardcover)

In this book, Jan J. Boersema reconstructs the ecological and cultural history of Easter Island and critiques the hitherto accepted theory of the collapse of its civilization. The collapse theory, advanced most recently by Jared Diamond and Clive Ponting, is based on the documented overexploitation of natural resources, particularly woodlands, on which Easter Island culture depended. Deforestation is said to have led to erosion, followed by hunger, conflict, and economic and cultural collapse. Drawing on scientific data and historical sources, including the shipping journals of the Dutch merchant who was the first European to visit the island in 1722, Boersema shows that deforestation did not in fact jeopardize food production and lead to starvation and violence. On the basis of historical and scientific evidence, Boersema demonstrates how Easter Island society responded to cultural and environmental change as it evolved and managed to survive.

General

Imprint:	Cambridge UniversityPress
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	April 2015
Authors:	Jan J. Boersema
Translators:	Diane Webb
Dimensions:	237 x 162 x 23mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	308
ISBN-13:	978-1-107-02770-1
Languages:	English
Subtitles:	Dutch
Categories:	Books > Earth & environment > The environment > Management of land & natural resources Books > Humanities > Archaeology > Archaeology by period / region > General Books > Earth & environment > The environment > Pollution & threats to the environment > Deforestation
LSN:	1-107-02770-5
Barcode:	9781107027701

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