A researcher at Rochester Institute of Technology is unraveling a mystery surrounding Easter Island. William Basener, assistant professor of mathematics, has created the first mathematical formula to accurately model the island’s monumental societal collapse.
Between 1200 and 1500 A.D., the small, remote island, 2,000 miles off the coast of Chile, was inhabited by over 10,000 people and had a relatively sophisticated and technologically advanced society. During this time, inhabitants used large boats for fishing and navigation, constructed numerous buildings and built many of the large statues, known as Tiki Gods, for which the island is now best known. However, by the late 18th century, when European explorers first discovered the island, the population had dropped to 2,000 and islanders were living in near primitive conditions, with almost all elements of the previous society completely wiped out.
“The reasons behind the Easter Island population crash are complex but do stem from the fact that the inhabitants eventually ran out of finite resources, including food and building materials, causing a massive famine and the collapse of their society,” Basener says. “Unfortunately, none of the current mathematical models used to study population development predict this sort of growth and quick decay in human communities.”
Population scientists use differential equation models to mimic the development of a society and predict how that population will change over time. Since incidents like Easter Island do not follow the normal progression of most societies, entirely new equations were needed to model the outcome. Computer simulations using Basener’s formula predict values very close to the actual archeological findings on Easter Island. His team’s results were recently published in SIAM Journal of Applied Math.
Basener will next use his formula to analyze the collapse of the Mayan and Viking populations. He also hopes to modify his work to predict population changes in modern day societies.
“It is my hope this research can be used to create a better understanding of past societies,” Basener adds. “It will also eventually help scientists and governments develop better population management skills to avert future famines and population collapses.”
Basener’s research was done in collaboration with David Ross, visiting professor of mathematics at the University of Virginia, mathematicians Bernie Brooks, Mike Radin and Tamas Wiandt and a group of RIT mathematics students.
From RIT
it has a point when it’s your car; and you and your family are in it.
A model which describes how long a car will roll when the juice runs out. Takes into account rolling resistance, road temperature, prevailing winds. Gimmie a grant.
When you look at the inhumanity/humanity that has emerged from a catastrophic event like New Orleans, you might wonder which behaviour mode ensures better survival of the species.
It would be an interesting extension to this investigation to see if any genetic variation occured as Easter Island declined which might indicate that a certain bloodline – the one that was fittest to survive – came to the fore.
This article clearly states the mindset of the author. It is intelligently drafted to create intrest of the reader. It brings out the worth of the subject.
John
As the article points out Easter Island is isolated this makes introduction of new animals and plants more difficult then on a continent. If you wiped out all life in am ecologicly diverse area the size of Easter Island on a continent weeds common to gardens in that area would quickly invade slower growing plants and animals would eventually reinhabit. However if you made the area isolated enough that it was difficult for life to get to that area then the rate of repopulation would be greatly reduced and their is a possibility that many of the same plants and animals may never reach that area.
Also on a continent there is more room to spread out this allows for less strain on the resources of any particular area.
Thanks to ScienceBlog for including modeling and simulation of social systems in its review of cutting edge research.
This kind of work illuminates the causes and courses of rising and falling fortunes of groups of people. It can teach us how to avoid wars and catastrophes such as we see today in New Orleans.