Doing indigenous archaeology in Rapa Nui: How, where and when

Enerike Ngaara Te Manu Carrasco Hotu, Rapanui archaeologist, will give a special talk at UCL on 30 April.

Megalithic stone statue lying on teh ground on its back with a mountain in the distance and blue sky overhead

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Doing indigenous archaeology in Rapa Nui: How, where and when

30 Apr 2025, 16:00 – 17:30

Maths 505
25 Gordon Street
London
WC1H 0AY
United Kingdom

Few places in the world have been as influenced by archaeology as Rapa Nui (Easter Island). So much so that just as the tree does not allow us to see the forest, the moai does not allow us to see the people. The constant focus on the mysterious Rongorongo script and megalithic monuments in conditions of extreme isolation have not allowed us to delve into other more everyday aspects of the life of the ancient Rapa Nui, such as the containment of drinking water, agricultural practices and types of artifacts.

In this presentation, the relevance of an indigenous approach to archaeological research on Rapa Nui, the easternmost island of Polynesia, will be presented. Through an analysis of different experiences such as work in museums, community, academic, cultural and repatriation experiences, we seek to analyse how two different worlds, modern science and traditional Rapa Nui knowledge, can work hand in hand in pursuit of a better understanding of the past.

The importance of active community participation in all stages of archaeological work in indigenous territories is fundamental not only to show respect to the ancient inhabitants of those spaces, but also because it is the only way to delve into the deeper aspects of the culture. Ancestral wisdom must accompany scientific work, from the formulation of a problem to the interpretation and uses to which that knowledge is put.

About the Speaker (in their own words)

“Enerike Ngaara Te Manu Carrasco Hotu. I am rapanui and I am currently studying archaeology at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. I was born and raised all my life in a Rapanui environment. Learning since I was a child the local professions of music, dances, oral tradition, toponymy, carving, agriculture, fishing and our values. I decided to study archaeology because it was from the work with material culture that I wanted to be a contribution to my homeland and culture. Especially considering the great abundance of archaeology in Rapanui.

I have worked in multiple areas of archaeology, museums, heritage management, research and art. I am also president of the Federation of Rapa Nui students, Haka Nonoga and also of Herekiteaka, a group that seeks to do archaeology from a Rapanui perspective. Organization: Herekiteaka, Council of Elders of Rapa Nui.”