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http://www.islandheritage.org/eihistory.html Easter Island (or Rapa Nui) is one of the world’s great archaeological sites, and also one of the most remote. The nearest inhabited island is tiny Pitcairn, over 1200 miles to the west. Rapa Nui is almost 2500 miles from the coast of South America and, in the other direction; it is 2000 miles to Tahiti. Its isolation is one of the key factors affecting the culture that evolved here. From what is known of the culture, language, and customs, it seems that the original settlers came from either the Marquesas Islands or from Mangareva around AD 400-600. It is unknown but they may have stopped at other islands along the way. Finding this isolated island is said to be a miracle. The Polynesians who found Easter Island came prepared to stay. They brought tools and food, and plants and anima