A new podcast … includes a discussion of Rapa Nui!

New paper exploring some of the details of the moai walking hypothesis… www.sciencedirect.com/science/auth...

Excavations near the village of Laungiua, Ontong Java. We anxiously await the radiocarbon dates!

Comparisons

Ahu Nau Nau

The monuments of Ontong Java - Luangiua Village

Today begins an adventure to a remote island in the Solomons to investigate the possibility of an alternative East Polynesian homeland.

The town of Hanga Roa

Fallen giant on the moai road

Moai road with rocks fallen into the concave roadbed.

The next adventure comiing soon: Ontong Java.

Moai road segment - south coast

Moai- interior of Rano Raraku

A small moai on northeast coast — Ahu Mahatua

Slumbering

Rano Raraku.

Maunga O Koro… once of the numerous cinder cones of Rapa Nui.

Vai a Heva—on Poike

Moai in the process of being carved at the quarry of Rano Raraku.

Red scoria moai fragment at the scoria quarry of Maunga O Koro

Tangata manu - “birdman” petroglyphs at Orongo.

Motu Marotiri— off the coast of Poike on the south coast. If you look closely you’ll see 3 constructed Avanga (burial cairns) on the summit. #rapanui

One of the massive hare paenga features at Te Peu #rapanui

Like no place else: momento360.com/e/u/45b5caa2... #rapanui

Sunrise at Ahu Tongariki #rapanui

Closeup photo of a rat-gnawed palm nut. #rapanui

Moai keeping on. #rapanui

This guy knows Earth Day. #rapanui

Poro stone paving in front of the platform of Ahu Nau Nau. Poro are basalt boulders that were rounded from wave action and carried by people to locations inland. #rapanui

Moai at Ahu Tetenga. Interestingly, this one doesn’t have eye sockets and looks like it fell (and broke) while being moved. The angle of the base also show a significant forward lean. The rubble over the platform is a late addition that shows up on many ahu. #rapanui

A constructed “puna” — Ramps lead down to an area that intersects the groundwater that is flowing to the ocean. This strategy eliminates the impact of surf and wind on freshwater access. It may still be somewhat brackish depending on tides but it’s reliable. Note the ramp leading down… #rapanui

A poro stone ramp at Ahu Tetenga. Often mistakenly referred to as “canoe ramps” these features are found near community foci (ahu) and lead directly to fresh water seeps. At the bottom of this ramp is a well used today (a modified ancient well). #rapanui

Small early moai at Ahu Tetenga on the south coast #rapanu

A funky small moai on the south shore near Ahu Akahanga #rapanui

Quarry moai. Note the indentations for the eyes but lack of eye sockets. The indentations offer an ideal place for ropes used during “walking.” Moai found on roads show wear at that spot. #rapanui

Pukao with petroglyphs #rapanui

We later migrated from the kite to a blimp. We had to use hydrogen kindly provided by the airport weather station - Hazardous to say the least. The blimp gave us a wider range of conditions to fly in but was still subject to the wind in its positioning. Here, we are flying near Akahanga. #rapanui

Back in the pre-UAV days we generated aerial images using digital cameras flown from a kite. The trigger was mechanical and run by an RC controller. Of course the positioning was wind determined and fraught with problems. Still, it was amazing. Matt Bell (IARII) is flying here. #rapanui

Detail. #rapanui

This one is remarkably wide and cylindrical #rapanui

Moai being carved at Rano Raraku #rapanui

Moai slumber on the interior slopes of Rano Raraku. #rapanui

Birdmen petroglyphs at Ahu Nau Nau #rapanui

Maki maki face petroglyph #rapanui

Moai being carved from bedrock— still attached via the “keel” on its back. #rapanui

Bone fishhook #rapanui

Stratigraphy in the excavations at Anakena. The lowest levels have the earliest dates for the island’s human occupation (13th century CE). Until new solid dates are demonstrated, accept no other chronology…

Hafting of Mata’a to a wooden handle — collected in the 19th century. If this was a “deadly weapon” it would stink — thrown or used for slashing. There remain more than a few people who cling to the idea of endemic warfare. Of course all things (pillows, bananas) can be used as weapons. #rapanui