Study confirms famed Easter Island statues were ‘walked’ into place

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – A centuries-old mystery surrounding the transport of the massive Easter Island statues may have finally been solved, with researchers confirming that the stone figures were “walked” upright from quarry to site, aligning with local Rapa Nui oral tradition, media reports said on Sunday.

The new study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, shows that the statues' design enabled them to be rocked and pivoted into place using ropes and minimal labor, according to Fox News.

“Our experiments revealed that the forward-leaning design enabled efficient transport, covering 328 feet (100 meters) in 40 minutes with a team of 18 people,” the news outlet quoted the researchers as saying in the study, co-authored by Carl P. Lipo and Terry L. Hunt

The team analyzed 962 statues using 3D modeling and statistical mapping.

They found the D-shaped bases and lean of the statues made upright transport both feasible and efficient.

This method of vertical movement counters earlier horizontal-transport theories, presenting a more sustainable and culturally resonant alternative.

“The walking method required minimal resources and labor compared to horizontal transport hypotheses,” the study noted, adding it also “aligns with Rapa Nui oral traditions that describe Moai ‘walking’ from the quarry.”

The statues, built between the 12th and 17th centuries, are a major draw for tourists visiting Chile’s Easter Island, one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the island got 156,000 tourists annually, generating $120 million in revenue, according to Spanish daily El Pais.