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Ancient Moai Transported: New Method Revealed by Researchers

10/22/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A 2012 experiment by a US research team showed that a 4.35-ton replica could "walk" via a method of teams pulling in opposite directions.
Anthropologist Carl Lipo and his team surveyed 962 moai, focusing on 62 along ancient roads.
They moved a replica 100 meters in 40 minutes with 18 people, showing a more efficient method.
The results shed new light on how these ancient artifacts were transported.

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Story summary

A 2012 experiment by a US research team showed that a 4.35-ton replica could "walk" via a method of teams pulling in opposite directions.
Anthropologist Carl Lipo and his team surveyed 962 moai, focusing on 62 along ancient roads.
They moved a replica 100 meters in 40 minutes with 18 people, showing a more efficient method.
The results shed new light on how these ancient artifacts were transported.