The La Perouse Archaeological Project, Easter Island, Chile (LPAP) is an international and interdisciplinary study of the prehistoric culture of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). The focus of this research is an examination of how the environmental context and agricultural production system influenced long term political development of this Polynesian chiefdom. Toward this end, archaeological field efforts include the documentation of the prehistoric settlement pattern, the study of site function, landscape reconstruction, chronological studies, and the analysis of food remains. The project is supported the Earthwatch Foundation (Watertown, Massachusetts) and the Kon-Tiki Museum (Oslo, Norway) with auxiliary support from FERCO. The LPAP encourages volunteer participation and education as well as professional archaeological research. If you are interested in participating as a volunteer please contact the Earthwatch Foundation (e-mail: info@earthwatch.org).