A new study in the Journal of Archaeological Science by archaeologists Carl Lipo of Binghamton University and Terry Hunt of the University of Arizona proposes that the 92-ton moai statues on Easter Island, Chile, were transported in a vertical position using ropes to “walk” them onto their stone platforms. The research combines three-dimensional modeling, field experiments with a scaled replica, and analysis of 62 abandoned statues along ancient roads, finding that wider bases and a forward lean of 6–15 degrees enabled a rocking motion that allowed a team of 18 people to move a statue 328 feet in about 40 minutes.
This matters because it resolves a long-standing archaeological mystery with robust experimental evidence, supporting oral traditions of the Indigenous Rapa Nui people that the moai “walked” from the quarry. The findings also reveal sophisticated engineering knowledge, including the use of resonance principles, and explain why some statues were abandoned mid-transport due to mechanical failure. The study refines earlier theories and demonstrates how modern technology can validate traditional knowledge.