For centuries, researchers have been captivated by the mystery of how the ancient inhabitants of Rapa Nui—also known as Easter Island—transported their huge moai statues. Now, new research using physics, 3D modeling, and field experiments presents the strongest evidence yet that the gigantic stone statues were not dragged or rolled, but “walked” upright to their locations using an ingenious engineering method.

Easter Island’s moai statues really “walked”: physics and archaeology confirm the hypothesis.

The study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, was led by anthropologist Carl Lipo of Binghamton University and University of Arizona’s Terry Hunt. Analyzing nearly 1,000 moai statues, including 62 found along ancient roads, the scientists concluded that the statues’ unique shapes were designed to enable movement. The road statues all share distinctive features—a wide, D-shaped base and a leaning-forward position—that would allow them to be rocked from side to side, thus creating a walking motion.

Researchers built a 4.35-ton replica moai based on these proportions to test their hypothesis. They moved the statue 100 meters using only ropes and a team of 18 people, accomplishing this in 40 minutes. The test proved that the forward tilt and curved base made transport not just possible but efficient as well, validating the hypothesis that the statues were moved upright in a controlled zigzag manner. The technique, the researchers found, required minimal labor and no wooden rollers—contrary to previous hypotheses that the statues were moved horizontally through widespread deforestation.

The findings also align with Rapa Nui’s oral traditions, which describe the statues “walking” to their ceremonial platforms, known as ahu. Beyond the experiment, the researchers analyzed the spatial distribution of moai along Rapa Nui’s ancient roads. More than half of the unfinished or broken statues were located within two kilometers of the Rano Raraku quarry, showing an exponential decay pattern consistent with mechanical transport failure rather than intentional placement. The roads themselves, typically 4.5 meters wide and concave in shape, appear to have been purpose-built for stabilizing the statues during movement.

The statues of Easter Island. Credit: Andrea Vera Sᴀsso

This confirms the suggestion that the islanders built both the statues and the roads as an interrelated system of monument construction. Whenever a statue was moved, workers likely cleared new sections of road, advancing gradually toward its ultimate location. The overlapping and parallel routes visible in the landscape support this idea.

The study also answers old challenges to the walking hypothesis, such as claims about terrain steepness, rope strength, and the feasibility of transporting such large objects over uneven ground. According to the researchers, none of these challenges invalidate the walking model. Instead, the evidence shows that the moai design evolved specifically for this method of transport—a stunning solution consistent with the islanders’ modest resources and understanding of physics.

More information: Binghamton UniversityReference: Lipo, C. P., & Hunt, T. L. (2025). The walking moai hypothesis: Archaeological evidence, experimental validation, and response to critics. Journal of Archaeological Science, 183(106383), 106383. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2025.106383