The Pukao of Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile)

Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0003-4391-3590

Document Type

Data Set

Publication Date

2016

Keywords

Easter Island, Rapa Nui, Moai, Pukao

Abstract

Structure from motion (SfM) mapping is a photogrammetric technique that offers a cost-effective means of creating three-dimensional visual representations from overlapping digital photographs. The technique has seen increasing uses for documenting the archaeological record. We demonstrate the utility of SfM through a study of the form of red scoria bodies known as pukao from Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile). We study 50 pukao that once adorned the massive statues (moai) of Rapa Nui, and compare them to 13 additional pukao located in Puna Pau: the island’s red scoria pukao quarry. Through SfM, we demonstrate that the majority of these bodies have petroglyphs and other surface features that are relevant to archaeological explanation and are currently at risk of continued degradation.

Comments

This repository includes the raw data from the 50 pukao modeled on Rapa Nui. For each pukao body, we include data for the overall shape in Alias/Wavefront Material format (.mtl), Wavefront OBJ format (.obj), a PDF files (.pdf) and the original Agisoft project file (.psz). We also include the Wavefront files (.mtl/.obj) that show the petroglyphs on the bodies.

The pukao are stored as a series of .zip files for each ahu location. The locaitons of the ahu are provided in the source publication. The pukao are individually numbered.

Please note that these files are quite large (up to 1.2GB) and that downloading will take some time, particularly over slow connections.

HixonEtAl-2018-Pukao.pdf (3739 kB)
The colossal hats (pukao) of monumental statues on Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile): Analyses of pukao variability, transport, and emplacement

HixonEtAl-2017-using_structure_from_motion_mapping_to_record_and_analyze_details_of_the_colossal_hats_pukao_of_monumental_statues_on_rapa_nui_easter_island.pdf (2886 kB)
A - Vinapu.zip (896343 kB)
B - Hanga Poukura.zip (468813 kB)
D - Vaihu.zip (1034400 kB)
C- Tarakiu.zip (141888 kB)
E - Ura Uranga te Mahina.zip (450605 kB)
F - Akahanga.zip (718156 kB)
G - Tu'u Tahi.zip (76060 kB)
H - One Makihi.zip (153414 kB)
I - Tongariki.zip (1239893 kB)
J - Hekii.zip (753274 kB)
K - Anakena.zip (244342 kB)
L - Te Pito Kura.zip (171010 kB)
M - Puna Pau.zip (2155060 kB)
Tahai - Replica.zip (41148 kB)

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