EASTER ISLAND

History

In 1772 Jacob Roggeveen, a Dutchman, discovered the island on Easter Sunday, hence, he named the island after such date. In 1888, Navy captain Policarpo Toro made the island part of the Chilean territory. Between 1895 and 1953, Easter Island was leased to a Scottish company as a sheep farm. In 1935, it was granted the National Park and historical monument status, however, regular archeological research and monument restoration activities were only undertaken by mid 1950's, which boosted the self-esteem and pride of the Rapa Nui people.

Rapa Nui, the farthest inhabited island all over the world, saw the arrival of a small group of seamen who developed one of the most extraordinary and unique cultures on Earth at that small and isolated area.

Architectural works and and monumental stone sculpture, unparalleled hieroglyphic writing, along with advanced knowledge of engineering and astronomy, are telling the island's true mystery: the arise and development of a complex culture in extreme isolation.