Easter Island

work by Metraux

Also known as: “L’Île de Pâques”

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June 25, 2026

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Alfred Métraux was a Swiss anthropologist known for his work on South American ethnohistory and African culture in Haiti. Following an expedition to Easter Island, Métraux published "Ethnology of Easter Island" (1940) and "Easter Island" (1935). In these works, he argued that the indigenous population of Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is Polynesian in both culture and physical characteristics. He also contended that the island's famous monolithic statues are indigenous creations, not of Asian or American Indian origin. Easter Island is a Chilean island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, known for its hundreds of large, monolithic statues with human features.12

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Alfred Métraux
…and L’Île de Pâques (1935; Easter Island), he argued that Easter Island’s indigenous population is Polynesian, both culturally and physically, and that the island’s well-known monolithic sculptures are native creations rather than Asian or American Indian ones.
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…and L’Île de Pâques (1935; Easter Island), he argued that Easter Island’s indigenous population is Polynesian, both culturally and physically, and that the island’s well-known monolithic sculptures are native creations rather than Asian or American Indian ones.
Read More