Statue in transport

This statue is one of the many ‘transport moai’ that appear to have been abandoned en route to their ceremonial platforms. This one near Ahu Tentenga, like many, lies face down. The great size of the statues (10 metres high) is emphasised by the sheltering horses. Just to the right of the horses, on the horizon, there is a topographic dip, which marks the ancient road that the moai were transported along. There are competing ideas about how the moai (weighing up to 80 tons) were transported along the roads – either prone on rollers and sledges, or by walking them upright in a sling-like frame.

This photograph was taken during the Spring 2008 season of the ‘Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction’ project, an international collaboration co-directed by Dr Sue Hamilton (UCL Institute of Archaeology) that involves universities and local organisations and is supported by the British Academy.

Rapa Nui is the local name for Easter Island. It is one of the remotest places on Earth, lying in the South-East Pacific west of Chile and measuring 170 square km. Its most well known feature is its iconic statues, which were created 1000–1500 AD.

To find out more about the project and how you can support it, please contact Dr Sue Hamilton.

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