Mystery of the moai solved: Researchers say they 'walked' across Rapa Nui. For decades, researchers have puzzled over how the ancient people of Rapa Nui did the seemingly impossible and moved their moai statues. Now, researchers believe they have found the definitive answer - they “walked” them into place. Using a combination of physics, 3D modelling, and on-the-ground experiments, a team including faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York, confirmed that they were moved with a little rope and remarkably few people. Studying nearly 1,000 moai statues, Binghamton University Professor of Anthropology Carl Lipo and the University of Arizona’s Terry Hunt found that the people of Rapa Nui, likely used rope to “walk” the giant statues in a zig-zag motion along carefully designed roads. Lipo and his colleagues had previously demonstrated via experimental evidence that the large statues were moved from their quarry to ceremonial platforms using an upright, rocking motion, challenging a theory that the statues were moved lying prone on wooden devices. “Once you get it moving, it isn’t hard at all – people are pulling with one arm. It conserves energy, and it moves really quickly,” said Lipo. To explore how a larger statue might move, Lipo’s team created high-resolution 3D models of the moai and identified distinctive design features. Putting their theory to the test, the team built a 4.35-ton replica moai with the distinct ‘forward-lean’ design. With just 18 people, the team was able to transport the moai 100 meters in just 40 minutes, a marked improvement over previous vertical transport attempts.