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Old Easter Island genomes show no sign of a population collapse

Native American DNA in the genomes dates to roughly when Rapa Nui was settled.

When they arrived, though, they found that the relatively small island supported a population of thousands, one that had built imposing monumental statues called moai. Given the questionable record-keeping at various points in the past, one of the goals of this work was simply to determine whether these remains truly had originated on Rapa Nui. This is the highest percentage seen in any Polynesian population, including some that show hints of Native American contact that dates to before Europeans arrived on the scene.

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