The new theory could rewrite the history of the statues. (Image: Getty)
A shocking new theory regarding the Easter Island heads could rewrite the history of the iconic statues.
It’s now been claimed that the carvings are actually than originally thought, according to writer and explorer Graham Hancock.
Hancock believes the heads were carved over 11,000 years ago and not the widely accepted 900 years ago.
study that found evidence of shrubs and herbs between 14,000 and 10,000 years ago and a 2013 study that found evidence of banana plants on the island at least 3,000 years ago.
He told : “What I am suggesting is that the Polynesians encountered a pre-existing population on that island, evidenced by those bananas [remains]… present there at least 3,000 years ago.
:
The theory suggests that the statues are thousands of years older than believed. (Image: Getty)
“And that from that pre-existing population, they inherited the older traditions and songs that we see today.”
Easter Island is home to roughly 1,000 Moai – the large stone heads. Hancock thinks 12,000 years ago and stayed until Polynesian settlers arrived.
He also argues the heads are older than the stands they’re placed on due to different construction techniques. He said: “I see nothing in the ecology of the island to rule out a human presence that far back.”
[REVEAL]
However, this new theory has faced criticism from experts who pointed out similar statues on surrounding Pacific Islands, which have similar poses.
Archaeologist Dr Dale F Simpson Jr said: “[Easter Island] is one of the most that I have been to. It is riddled with mystery.
“But sometimes, people take micro bits of data and turn them into macro-interpretations to support claims that are not entirely substantiated.”
Hancock has rebuffed this, suggesting the Easter Island heads are independent and do not share many common features.