ld be explained by contact with another culture, that of the Incas . Jean Herv� Daudel thesis argues that the influence of America on the island would have been wrongly rejected on the basis of prejudice on the navigation capability of the South Americans. Oral tradition mentions the presence on the island of two distinct populations, "the small ears' and 'Watership Down'.The first group would be of Polynesian origin and the second of Inca origin. This Inca presence is the result of the stay of the Sapa Inca Tupac Yupanqui circa 1465, during a naval expedition exploration Oral tradition also refers to the master of the 'Watership Down' in the carving of the stone. If Inca influence is still visible in the remains of the great works of stone, and in some parts of the wooden sculptures is no longer detectable in the population itself. The Incas arrived without women would have mixed with the Polynesians, which would have wiped out most of their genetic characteristics. According to oral tradition, the 'Watership Down' have also been killed by "small ears". This second settlement had been formed by men squat, which is also characteristic of the Andean men whose chest is well developed
Decline and foreign domination
Several expeditions reached Easter Island. In the image, the Russian ship Rurikis received by the few surviving inhabitants.
It is estimated that the population of Rapa Nui suffered a crisis of overpopulation in the centuries XV and XVIII , which could have caused wars between the tribes, with the consequent destruction of ceremonial altars and abandoned quarries that were carved the Moai . The natives had to suffer periodic food shortages and began living in caves for protection against raids by enemy groups, which is sometimes performed in order to capture people to eat. Surge a new ceremonial, the Tangata manu ("bird-man"), in which young people from different clans vying to be the first to return the islet
