The Statues That Walked: The Mystery of Easter Island
For centuries, scientists have tried to solve the mystery of how the colossal stone statues of Easter Island moved. Now there's a new theory and it rocks.
The multi-ton behemoths traveled up to 11 miles from the quarry where most of them were carved, without the benefit of wheels, cranes, or even large animals.
Scientists have tested many ideas in the past, figuring that the islanders must have used a combination of log rollers, ropes, and wooden sledges. Now, a pair of archaeologists has come up with a new theory:
Perhaps the statues, known as moai, were "engineered to move" upright in a rocking motion, using only man- power and rope.
Carl Lipo of California State University, Long Beach and Terry Hunt of the University of Hawai'i at Mänoa have worked closely with archaeologist Sergio Rapu, who is part of the South Pacific island's population of indigenous Rapanui, to develop their idea. They've observed that fat bellies allowed the statues to be tilted forward easily, and heavy, D-shaped bases could have allowed handlers to roll and rock the moai side to side.
Last year, in experiments funded by the National Geographic Society's Expeditions Council, Hunt and Lipo showed that as few as 18 people could, with three strong ropes and a bit of practice, easily and relatively quickly maneuver a ten-foot, five-ton moai replica a few hundred yards. No logs were required. (from National Geo- graphic News)
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