SMRTR Science & EngineeringOct 9, 2025Interesting Engineering

How Easter Islanders moved their towering stone giants upright

SMRTR summary

Researchers at Binghamton University and the University of Arizona have solved the centuries-old mystery of how ancient Rapa Nui people moved their massive 130,000-pound moai statues across Easter Island's 11-mile terrain. Using 3D modeling and field experiments with a 4.35-ton replica, the team confirmed that the statues were "walked" upright in a rocking, zig-zag motion along specially designed concave roads rather than dragged lying down.

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