It is believed that the downfall of the island occured years after the first settlers arrived when the population reached it's peak at more than 10,000, exceeding the capabilities of the small island's ecosystem. In the 1700's resources became scarce, forests were cut down for agriculture and for rollers to move the statues. Without the trees, the bird and animal life dissapeared, and there were no logs to build canoes for fishing. Crop yeilds declined because of the erosion of soil, and famine and eventually canibalism set in amoung the islanders. Years later, the remaining islanders were captured for slaves in Peru.
Experts believe that the ilanders spent most of their time creating the moai.
Then they would break away the keel and slide the moai down the slope where it would be decorated. The moai would next be transported to it's proposed location. There are many sites on the island where this action was taking place. They are assumed to be depictions of deceased chiefs, heroes, or gods. Each moai sits on a ahu or platform where a tribal hero was buried, and the statues seem to transfer power to the person who planned it's creation.