How the Statues of Easter Island Walked Into Place

Multi-ton stone statues literally walked across Easter Island, according to new research that validates centuries-old Rapa Nui oral traditions.

Binghamton University anthropologist Carl Lipo and colleague Terry Hunt studied over 900 moai, discovering that statues found along ancient roads have distinctly different features than their coastal counterparts. The inland moai sport rounded, D-shaped bases and lack the deep-set eyes that give the famous coastal statues their iconic expression.

These design differences weren't accidental. The researchers believe the rounded bases and heavier, eyeless heads were specifically engineered for transportation. Teams could rock the statues forward in a zigzag pattern using ropes attached to their heads, while a third rope prevented them from toppling over.

To test this walking theory, the scientists built their own 4.35-ton replica moai. With just 18 people, they successfully walked their stone giant more than 325 feet in 40 minutes.

"Once you get it moving, it isn't hard at all—people are pulling with one arm," Lipo explained. The breakthrough suggests the Rapa Nui's oral histories, long dismissed by outsiders, were accurate all along.