New DNA analysis adds to growing research indicating the famous Pacific island did not collapse from overuse of resources before the arrival of Europeans

Two recent studies have cast doubt on a popular theory that the ancient residents of Easter Island suffered a societal collapse because they overexploited their natural resources, an event often labeled one of history's first "ecocides".

The history of Easter Island's ancient inhabitants has been presented as a warning tale of resource overexploitation.

Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island or Te Pito o Te Henua (the navel of the world), is one of the most remote inhabited locations on Earth, situated over 1,900 km from the nearest Polynesian island and 3,700 km from South America.

The scientists have debunked what they say was a colonial narrative, and one which has been used as a warning about overexploiting nature.