First Fossil Record of Lava Trees and Tree Molds of Palms in Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

This study documents for the first time the presence of lava trees and tree molds on Rapa Nui, specifically in the areas of Ana Te Pahu and Runga Va’e. The records are associated with ‘A‘ā and pillow lava flows, which exhibit morphologies similarities with the extinct palm Paschalococos disperta, reinforcing their paleobotanical significance. Among the studied records both in situ (autochthonous) and displaced (allochthonous) specimens were identified, highlighting the interaction between vegetation and eruptive dynamics. Although formed in a volcanic (non-sedimentary) context, these records meet the definition of fossils and should therefore be considered part of the paleobotanical heritage of Rapa Nui National Park. Their current vulnerability, together with the legal gap regarding volcanic fossils in Chilean regulations, underscores the need for specific protection measures and their formal inclusion within the geoheritage of Rapa Nui National Park.