Carl Lipo

Ahu Nau Nau

Ahu Nau Nau

An ahu with the sun rising in the background

The sun rises behind Ahu Tongariki

Trachyte moai

Small trachyte moai on Poike.

Moai head fragment

A lonely moai fragment that once stood on an ahu (you can tell because it has carved eye sockets), toppled, became just a piece of rubble, and was stacked into the next ahu renovation.

Ahu sea wall

Ahu wall—at least 3 phases of construction.

Moai in pits — a grassy slope.

A blimp photo view of moai in their excavated trenches at the bottom of the Rano Raraku quarry slope. These moai are upright so they can be finished and then walked out to their destination.

A landscape photo

The landscape of Rapa
Nui

Moai on sled and rollers

Van Tilburg and Ralston’s sled and roller contraption method using an “average” ahu moai form. The wood is eucalyptus. The archaeological evidence for this is zero. (Photo from Ted Ralston)

A moai

Moai on Ahu Nau Nau

Ahu Tongariki

Ahu Tongariki

Moai face

One face among many. This is an ahu moai given the carved eye sockets. Vinapu, south coast.

Ahu and shoreline

One alarming impact of increased storm surge over the past several decades has been the scouring of the coastline of all archaeological remains. Here is an ahu on the shore. The brown area at top has been wiped clean down to clay. All evidence of occupation— particularly water access— is long gone.

Moai on its face

Side view of base

Base of Moai

A fallen giant along the moai road. Note the base shape and forward lean. It’s not designed to stand upright.

People pulling on ropes to move a moai

A useful view of the Pavel Pavel method for “walking” a moai. There are 2 ropes pulling at an angle on the base. The moai swivels from side to side, grinding on its base. Movement was slow as the pullers had to overcome friction to do this. This moai has eyes: an ahu moai carved to stand upright.

Moai base with petroglyph

That other photo was actually the top of a head … the rock in the back is broken body. This is a base with a petroglyph. Seems like a convenient canvas to me. The carving is a lot younger looking than the surface of the base.

You nailed it. No evidence required.

You would think so. However, there are some folks who continue to push their “theories” while also arguing that the answer will never be known (ignoring evidence). It’s a strange anti-science stance but it allows them to always be in positions of authority.

Moai base

One recent criticism of the “walking” hypothesis is that there are petroglyphs on the bases of moai. These folks argue that one wouldn’t put petroglyphs on moai bases if they are going to be walked. Of course, unless the petroglyphs are late additions (which they are).

The base of a Moai

The base end of a road moai: the forward lean meant that it was not able to stand up on its own— it was shaped to walk. The ahu moai have reshaped bases.

The Moai statues on Easter Island “walked” The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.The Rapa Nui peoples of Easter Island have sculpted statues known as Moai for centuries.These statues are likely familiar ...

Radio: www.wamc.org/show/the-bes...

Ahu Tongariki

Ahu Tongariki

Petroglyphs on the seawall of Ahu Nau Nau

Petroglyphs on the seawall of Ahu Nau Nau

Question 16 – New insights? Q: How will this new research help to shed light on the mysteries of Rapa Nui? What are the most pressing questions about Rapa Nui that still persist? In other words, what about this culture continues to puzzle researchers, and will we ever have answers to these mysteries? A: The framing of Rapa Nui as a place of "mysteries" requires careful consideration.

Question 16 – New insights?

Q: How will this new research help to shed light on the mysteries of Rapa Nui? What are the most pressing questions about Rapa Nui that still persist? In other words, what about this culture continues to puzzle researchers, and will we ever have answers to these…

Question 15 – Material Acquisition Q: How did groups on Rapa Nui source the materials used to construct moai? Was there ever conflict over the acquisition of these materials, or over other factors involved in the construction of moai? A: Moai were carved from volcanic tuff at the Rano Raraku quarry, a location which represents the island's only source of suitable material for statue production. Over 95% of the island's more than 1,000…

Question 15 – Material Acquisition

Q: How did groups on Rapa Nui source the materials used to construct moai? Was there ever conflict over the acquisition of these materials, or over other factors involved in the construction of moai? A: Moai were carved from volcanic tuff at the Rano Raraku…

The value of Rapa Nui is the scenery… the Orongo scenes and the race down the cliff and out to the motus and back are amazing. And the Kiwi accents are hilarious. Build me a bigger Moai!

Question 14 – Centralized? Q: Why would Rapa Nui not have developed a more centralized society with a clear power structure? Did some families have more influence than others, being higher on a social ladder? A: The assumption that Rapa Nui required a centralized hierarchy stems from deeply embedded Western archaeological biases rather than from the evidence itself. To outsiders, the sheer scale of the…

Question 14 – Centralized?

Q: Why would Rapa Nui not have developed a more centralized society with a clear power structure? Did some families have more influence than others, being higher on a social ladder? A: The assumption that Rapa Nui required a centralized hierarchy stems from deeply…

Exactly.

The prevalence of warfare and wide scale violence in many narratives (despite evidence) is a good example.

Roussel was particularly impactful as he came speaking a Polynesian language, spoke with authority and was actively trying to eliminate old traditions and convert people to Catholicism. Those stories became baked into traditions of older generations and thus are treated with respect as truth.

Indeed. The challenge is that many of the beliefs that exist start with stories passed on from Roussel (and later Heyerdahl) and others who had their own agenda and biases about what they assumed the past was like.