Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4391-3590
Document Type
Data Set
Publication Date
Summer 6-4-2018
Keywords
moai, Easter Island, Rapa Nui, megalith
Abstract
The current database for the moai of Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile).
Publisher Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Lipo, C. P., et al. (2013). "The 'Walking' Megalithic Statues (Moai) of Easter Island." Journal of Archaeological Science 40(6): 2859-2866. Explaining how the monumental statues (moai) of Easter Island were transported has remained open to debate and speculation, including their resource expenditures and role in deforestation. Archaeological evidence including analysis of moai variability, particularly those abandoned along ancient roads, indicates transport was achieved in a vertical position. To test this proposition we constructed a precise three-dimensional 4.35 metric ton replica of an actual statue and demonstrate how positioning the center of mass allowed it to fall forward and rock from side to side causing it to 'walk.' Our experiments reveal how the statue form was engineered for efficient transport by a small number of individuals.
The Walking Moai of Rapa Nui
MOAI_DATABASE_PUBLIC.xlsx (480 kB)
The database of moai (Microsoft Excel Format)
MoaiDatabase.kmz (233 kB)
The database of moai (Google Earth format)
moai.zip (326857 kB)
Moai photos