When did the first people arrive on Easter Island?

The first people are believed to have arrived on Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, around 1200 AD. These early settlers are thought to have come from Polynesia, bringing with them their culture, language, and agricultural practices. They developed a unique society on the island, renowned for its monumental stone statues called moai. The exact timeline of arrival remains a subject of research and debate among archaeologists.