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Starch residue analysis was carried out on stone tools recovered from the bottom layer of the Anakena site on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). These deposits have been dated to AD 1000–1300 AD and so far, represent the earliest evidence of human settlement on this island. Twenty obsidian tools were analyzed. Analysis of 46 starch grains recovered from 20 obsidian tools from the earliest dated level of the Anakena site on Rapa Nui provides direct evidence for translocation of traditional crop plants at initial stages of the colonization of this island. The analysis of starch grains was based mainly on statistical methods for species identification but was complemented by visual inspection in some cases. Our results identify taxons previously unknown to have been cultivated on the island, such as breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), Zingiber officinale (ginger), and starch grains of the Spondias dulcis and Inocarpus fagifer tropical trees. Additionally, starch grains of Colocasia esculenta (taro) and Dioscorea sp. (yam), both common species in Pacific agriculture, were identified. Furthermore, the presence of four American taxa Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato), Canna sp. (achira), Manihot esculenta (manioc), and Xanthosoma sp., was detected. The occurrence of Canna sp., M. esculenta, and Xanthosoma sp. starch grains suggests the translocation of previously not described South American cultivars into the Pacific. The detection of I. batatas from this site in Rapa Nui constitutes the earliest record of this cultigen in the Pacific. Our study provides direct evidence for translocation of a set of traditional Polynesian and South American crop plants at the initial stages of colonization in Rapa Nui.

Starch residue analysis was carried out on stone tools recovered from the bottom layer of the Anakena site on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). These deposits have been dated to AD 1000–1300 AD and so far, represent the earliest evidence of human settlement on this island. Twenty obsidian tools were analyzed. Analysis of 46 starch grains recovered from 20 obsidian tools from the earliest dated level of the Anakena site on Rapa Nui provides direct evidence for translocation of traditional crop plants at initial stages of the colonization of this island. The analysis of starch grains was based mainly on statistical methods for species identification but was complemented by visual inspection in some cases. Our results identify taxons previously unknown to have been cultivated on the island, such as breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), Zingiber officinale (ginger), and starch grains of the Spondias dulcis and Inocarpus fagifer tropical trees. Additionally, starch grains of Colocasia esculenta (taro) and Dioscorea sp. (yam), both common species in Pacific agriculture, were identified. Furthermore, the presence of four American taxa Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato), Canna sp. (achira), Manihot esculenta (manioc), and Xanthosoma sp., was detected. The occurrence of Canna sp., M. esculenta, and Xanthosoma sp. starch grains suggests the translocation of previously not described South American cultivars into the Pacific. The detection of I. batatas from this site in Rapa Nui constitutes the earliest record of this cultigen in the Pacific. Our study provides direct evidence for translocation of a set of traditional Polynesian and South American crop plants at the initial stages of colonization in Rapa Nui.

Starch residue analysis was carried out on stone tools recovered from the bottom layer of the Anakena site on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). These deposits have been dated to AD 1000–1300 AD and so far, represent the earliest evidence of human settlement on this island. Twenty obsidian tools were analyzed. Analysis of 46 starch grains recovered from 20 obsidian tools from the earliest dated level of the Anakena site on Rapa Nui provides direct evidence for translocation of traditional crop plants at initial stages of the colonization of this island. The analysis of starch grains was based mainly on statistical methods for species identification but was complemented by visual inspection in some cases. Our results identify taxons previously unknown to have been cultivated on the island, such as breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), Zingiber officinale (ginger), and starch grains of the Spondias dulcis and Inocarpus fagifer tropical trees. Additionally, starch grains of Colocasia esculenta (taro) and Dioscorea sp. (yam), both common species in Pacific agriculture, were identified. Furthermore, the presence of four American taxa Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato), Canna sp. (achira), Manihot esculenta (manioc), and Xanthosoma sp., was detected. The occurrence of Canna sp., M. esculenta, and Xanthosoma sp. starch grains suggests the translocation of previously not described South American cultivars into the Pacific. The detection of I. batatas from this site in Rapa Nui constitutes the earliest record of this cultigen in the Pacific. Our study provides direct evidence for translocation of a set of traditional Polynesian and South American crop plants at the initial stages of colonization in Rapa Nui.

Starch residue analysis was carried out on stone tools recovered from the bottom layer of the Anakena site on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). These deposits have been dated to AD 1000–1300 AD and so far, represent the earliest evidence of human settlement on this island. Twenty obsidian tools were analyzed. Analysis of 46 starch grains recovered from 20 obsidian tools from the earliest dated level of the Anakena site on Rapa Nui provides direct evidence for translocation of traditional crop plants at initial stages of the colonization of this island. The analysis of starch grains was based mainly on statistical methods for species identification but was complemented by visual inspection in some cases. Our results identify taxons previously unknown to have been cultivated on the island, such as breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), Zingiber officinale (ginger), and starch grains of the Spondias dulcis and Inocarpus fagifer tropical trees. Additionally, starch grains of Colocasia esculenta (taro) and Dioscorea sp. (yam), both common species in Pacific agriculture, were identified. Furthermore, the presence of four American taxa Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato), Canna sp. (achira), Manihot esculenta (manioc), and Xanthosoma sp., was detected. The occurrence of Canna sp., M. esculenta, and Xanthosoma sp. starch grains suggests the translocation of previously not described South American cultivars into the Pacific. The detection of I. batatas from this site in Rapa Nui constitutes the earliest record of this cultigen in the Pacific. Our study provides direct evidence for translocation of a set of traditional Polynesian and South American crop plants at the initial stages of colonization in Rapa Nui.

Starch residue analysis was carried out on stone tools recovered from the bottom layer of the Anakena site on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). These deposits have been dated to AD 1000–1300 AD and so far, represent the earliest evidence of human settlement on this island. Twenty obsidian tools were analyzed. Analysis of 46 starch grains recovered from 20 obsidian tools from the earliest dated level of the Anakena site on Rapa Nui provides direct evidence for translocation of traditional crop plants at initial stages of the colonization of this island. The analysis of starch grains was based mainly on statistical methods for species identification but was complemented by visual inspection in some cases. Our results identify taxons previously unknown to have been cultivated on the island, such as breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), Zingiber officinale (ginger), and starch grains of the Spondias dulcis and Inocarpus fagifer tropical trees. Additionally, starch grains of Colocasia esculenta (taro) and Dioscorea sp. (yam), both common species in Pacific agriculture, were identified. Furthermore, the presence of four American taxa Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato), Canna sp. (achira), Manihot esculenta (manioc), and Xanthosoma sp., was detected. The occurrence of Canna sp., M. esculenta, and Xanthosoma sp. starch grains suggests the translocation of previously not described South American cultivars into the Pacific. The detection of I. batatas from this site in Rapa Nui constitutes the earliest record of this cultigen in the Pacific. Our study provides direct evidence for translocation of a set of traditional Polynesian and South American crop plants at the initial stages of colonization in Rapa Nui.

This essay analyzes the development of anthropology -and particularly Chilean social anthropology- in Rapa Nui and the place the island occupies in the discipline, determining its characteristics and contributions to the local community. In this essay we provide an analysis of three dimensions: 1) a historical analysis of the paradigms and theoretical transformations in Rapa Nui studies, 2) an approach the studies carried out since institutionalization of the discipline and 3) an analysis of the relationships between researchers and informants in the anthropological production and its effects on the appropriation of knowledge by the island community., El presente ensayo analiza el desarrollo de la antropología –y en particular la antropología social chilena– en Rapa Nui y el lugar que ocupa la isla en la disciplina, al determinar sus características y aportes en la comunidad local. El estudio aborda tres dimensiones: 1) un análisis histórico de los paradigmas y las transformaciones teóricas en los estudios sobre Rapa Nui, 2) un abordaje de los estudios desde la institucionalización de la disciplina y 3) un análisis de las relaciones entre los investigadores y los informantes en la producción antropológica y sus repercusiones en la apropiación de los saberes por la comunidad isleña.

The present article describes the ethnopolitical route taken by the Rapa Nui community on its path towards self-determination and autonomy, linking it to current processes for the conservation of natural resources of the island, in particular the creation of the coastal-marine protected area of multiple uses. Through an ethnographic approach, milestones such as the Treaty or “Acuerdo de Voluntades”, anti- colonialist movements, special statute of administration and marine conservation initiatives were identified, that denote conflicts with the Chilean State and the search for recognition and self-determination in each of them. In this sense, we visualize the search for autonomy as a process that in the last 10 years has expanded, and in which the Chilean State’s own institutional-legal and administrative mechanisms have been used as a vehicle. In this sense, we state that the process surroun-ding the creation of the coastal-marine protected area is to be understood primarily as a path of territorial self-determination on the marine scale, rather than as a conservation strategy., Este trabajo describe la trayectoria etnopolítica rapanui en su demanda de autodeterminación y autonomía, vinculándola a procesos actuales de conservación de recursos naturales, como el de la creación del área costera-marina protegida de múltiples usos. Se identificaron hitos mediante revisión bibliográfica y entrevistas en profundidad a actores claves, tales como el Acuerdo de Voluntades, los movimientos anticolonialistas, el estatuto especial de administración y las iniciativas en conservación marina, que denotan los conflictos con el Estado chileno y la búsqueda de reconocimiento y autodeterminación. Observamos que la autonomía como proceso se profundiza en los últimos diez años, al utilizar los mecanismos institucionales-legales y administrativos del Estado chileno para transitar a formas propias de gestión territorial. En ese sentido, afirmamos que la creación del área costera-marina protegida de múltiples usos de Rapa Nui es más bien parte de un camino de autodeterminación territorial a escala marina que de una estrategia de conservación.

Analizamos algunos aspectos de los intercambios materiales y el rol de los textiles en las relaciones entre los nativos de Rapa Nui y los europeos de las tres primeras expediciones que la visitaron en el siglo XVIII. Buscamos entender el rol de los textiles y las vestimentas al interior de la cultura rapanui analizando el contexto y las creencias en las que estos se insertan, y en particular el rol de las telas de corteza batanada (o tapa) y los textiles europeos, intercambiados en esas ocasiones. El objetivo del análisis es comprender estos primeros encuentros por medio de la agencia de un elemento de la cultura material y desde de la perspectiva indígena. Demostramos que las formas de entender y utilizar el textil corresponden a una estructura simbólicamente significativa y compartida con el resto de la Polinesia, que les permitió articular lo autóctono con lo extranjero y regular las fronteras en una situación de contacto cultural.

Analizamos algunos aspectos de los intercambios materiales y el rol de los textiles en las relaciones entre los nativos de Rapa Nui y los europeos de las tres primeras expediciones que la visitaron en el siglo XVIII. Buscamos entender el rol de los textiles y las vestimentas al interior de la cultura rapanui analizando el contexto y las creencias en las que estos se insertan, y en particular el rol de las telas de corteza batanada (o tapa) y los textiles europeos, intercambiados en esas ocasiones. El objetivo del análisis es comprender estos primeros encuentros por medio de la agencia de un elemento de la cultura material y desde de la perspectiva indígena. Demostramos que las formas de entender y utilizar el textil corresponden a una estructura simbólicamente significativa y compartida con el resto de la Polinesia, que les permitió articular lo autóctono con lo extranjero y regular las fronteras en una situación de contacto cultural.