Easter Island Inhabitants Collected Freshwater from the Ocean's Edge in Order to Survive:
Ancient inhabitants of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) maintained a society of thousands by utilizing coastal groundwater discharge as their main source of "freshwater," according to new research from a team of archaeologists including faculty at Binghamton University, State University at New York.
The team, which included Binghamton University Professor of Anthropology Carl Lipo, measured the salinity of coastal water around the island of Rapa Nui, in order to determine whether or not the water close to the shores had a salt concentration low enough for humans to safely drink.
The process of coastal groundwater discharge makes it possible for humans to collect drinkable freshwater directly where it emerges at the coast of the island.
By measuring the percentage of salt in the coastal waters, and finding it safe for human consumption, and by eliminating other options as primary sources of drinking water, the researchers concluded that groundwater discharge was a critical factor in the sustenance of the large population the island is thought to have harbored.
"The porous volcanic soils quickly absorb rain, resulting in a lack of streams and rivers," Lipo said. "Fortunately, water beneath the ground flows downhill and ultimately exits the ground directly at the point at which the porous subterranean rock meets the ocean. When tides are low, this results in the flow of freshwater directly into the sea. Humans can thus take advantage of these sources of freshwater by capturing the water at these points."
Lipo said the freshwater mixes with the saltwater slightly, creating what's called brackish water, but not enough for the water to contain harmful levels of salt to human consumers. It does, however, mean that the islanders rarely used salt on their foods, because the water they drank contributed so drastically to their daily salt intake.
I wonder how the inhabitants found out where and when it was safe to drink the water?
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday October 12 2018, @08:51PM (2 children)
Researchers love to imagine the past... they can make up stuff all day long.
I don't think Rapa Nui is quite tall enough to deflect the trade winds up the way Oahu and the other Hawaiian islands do to get a year-round reliable rainfall, so... imagine away...
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Friday October 12 2018, @09:08PM (1 child)
Rapa Nui elevation is over 500 meters quite sufficient for clouds to build up and cause rain.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday October 12 2018, @10:34PM
Yeah, seems like 500m should do the trick... I've been in the "rainy part" of Oahu, and read extensively about similar areas on the big island (MUCH higher than 500m there...), the photos I've seen of Rapa Nui have never shown places like that, it's more rolling and smooth.
Would be nice to have the time to visit personally, as part of a South Pacific tour that doesn't involve naval service....
🌻🌻 [google.com]