The transportation of the iconic Moai statues from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) has sparked debate for over a century. A thorough analysis of 962 moai, concentrating on 62 road statues, by Professor Carl Lipo from Binghamton University and Dr. Terry Hunt from the University of Arizona utilized 3D modeling and field experiments to reveal that small groups of ancient Rapa Nui individuals may have utilized ropes to “walk” the massive statues in a zigzag motion along purposefully constructed roads.
Carl P. Lipo and Terry L. Hunt employed 3D modeling and field tests to verify that the ancient inhabitants of Rapa Nui “walked” the moai statues. Image credit: Carl Lipo.
Previously, Professor Lipo and his team had provided experimental proof that the large statues were “walked” from the quarry to ceremonial platforms using an upright rocking motion, countering the notion that they were moved lying flat on wooden contraptions.
“Once you initiate movement, it’s quite manageable. People can pull it with one arm, conserving energy and moving quickly,” stated Professor Lipo.
“The challenging part is getting it rocking from the outset. The key question is, what does it take if the statue is exceptionally large?”
“Is our experimental evidence in line with expectations based on physics?”
To examine the movement of larger statues, Professor Lipo and Dr. Hunt created high-resolution 3D representations of the moai, identifying unique design elements, such as a broad D-shaped base and forward incline, which enhance the likelihood of wobbling or zigzagging.
To test their hypothesis, they constructed a replica moai weighing 4.35 tonnes featuring a special ‘forward leaning’ design.
Only 18 individuals managed to transport the moai 100 meters in just 40 minutes, a significant enhancement over earlier vertical transportation methods.
“The physics is sound,” Professor Lipo remarked.
“What we observe in experiments is effective. And as sizes increase, it remains applicable.”
“The characteristics of giant object movement only become more consistent as they grow larger, as that becomes the sole viable approach to relocating them.”
Further backing for this theory lies in the roads of Rapa Nui.
This road, measuring 4.5 meters in width and concave in shape, was well-suited for stabilizing the statue during its movement.
“Each time the statue is moved, it appears as if a road is being formed. The road plays a role in the statue’s movement,” Professor Lipo explained.
“We’re essentially observing them overlapping and many parallel paths being created.”
“What they likely did was clear one path, move the statue, then clear another, adjusting their route in a specific sequence.”
“Thus, they devoted considerable time to the road aspect.”
“Currently, no other explanation sufficiently accounts for how the moai were moved. The challenge for others is to disprove this hypothesis.”
“Provide evidence that contradicts the walking theory, since I have yet to encounter information that challenges it.”
“In fact, every finding and thought we have encountered thus far continues to reinforce this hypothesis.”
“Our research pays homage to the Rapa Nui people, who accomplished a remarkable engineering achievement with limited resources.”
“This illustrates the incredible intelligence of the Rapa Nui, as they comprehended this process.”
“They executed it in a manner that aligns with the resources at their disposal.”
“It is truly a privilege to showcase their achievements. We can learn a great deal from their methodologies.”
The team’s study was published in the archeology journal.
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Carl P. Lipo and Terry L. Hunt. 2025. The Walking Moai Hypothesis: Archaeological Evidence, Experimental Testing, and Responses to Critics. archeology journal 183: 106383; doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106383
Source: www.sci.news
