This groundbreaking research was conducted by a team led by Carl Lipo from Binghamton University and Terry Hunt from the University of Arizona (USA). As a result, the scientists concluded that the stone giants were not dragged—they “walked.”
A Question That Has Long Puzzled Scientists
Between the 13th and 16th centuries, the inhabitants of Rapa Nui carved around a thousand moai from volcanic rock. The average weight of a statue reached about 20 tons. These giants stood between 3 and 10 meters tall, with the largest reaching 20 meters. Each statue represented a revered ancestor and symbolized the power of the clan that erected it.
These majestic figures, part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, are often referred to as heads, although most of them have bodies buried underground.
For a long time, the question of how they were transported remained a mystery to science. Long ago, European researchers even speculated that this secret was linked to lost civilizations or supernatural forces. In the last century, scientists proposed theories about moving the moai using sleds, rolling logs, or wooden tracks, but none of these were confirmed.
Now, to uncover the truth, scientists turned to physics, 3D modeling, and experimental archaeology.
Discoveries at the Intersection of Sciences
While studying 982 , the team noticed two key features: wide D-shaped bases and a slight forward tilt. These characteristics are not coincidental, as noted by Arkeonews. The center of gravity of the moai was positioned in such a way that the statue could sway slightly forward when pulled from the side, allowing it to move in a zigzag pattern.
The team built a full-size replica of a moai weighing 4.35 tons. Eighteen volunteers were able to move it 100 meters in just 40 minutes using three ropes. Swaying from side to side, the statue slowly “walked” forward, much like a refrigerator being slid across the floor.
“It comes to life when it starts to move. People pull it from both sides, and the statue walks forward on its own. The larger it is, the more stable it becomes. And physics does the rest,” Lipo said.
The researchers described the process as elegant and efficient. Ropes were wrapped around the statue’s head. Two groups of volunteers on either side alternately pulled on them, creating the swaying motion. Each push shifted the center of gravity, causing the giant to lean slightly forward. This small tilt helped the statue “correct its position” and prevented it from falling backward.
Roads Built for Movement
have shown that the ancient roads of the island, averaging 4.5 meters wide, had a concave shape. This slight curvature stabilized the swaying statues during movement, preventing them from toppling over. In other words, these were carefully designed paths intended for transporting these sacred monuments.
As they moved the moai, people literally “built a road beneath it,” Lipo noted. According to him, “transportation was not separate from construction—it was part of the process.”
Thus, the Rapa Nui achieved remarkable results using only stone tools, ropes, and an understanding of balance. As Lipo remarked, “This discovery reminds us that ancient societies were not primitive. They were the scientists of their world, the engineers of their environment, and the storytellers of their history.”
Today, the moai still silently guard the island, but thanks to modern science, they are no longer shrouded in mystery.
The results of the study were published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.