A mystery solved - maybe

@JudyEv (369758)

Rockingham, Australia

January 9, 2026 7:27pm CST

It’s never safe to assume anything but I’m assuming most of you have heard of the giant stone statues that appear all over Easter Island. This remote volcanic remnant is a Chilean island in the Pacific Ocean and home to almost 1,000 giant stone structures known as Moai. Some date back as far as the 13th century. Many stand in line on platforms known as ahu. On average, they stand 13 feet high and weigh 14 tons. Some are heads only; others heads and torsos. Some are adorned with ‘pukao’, ornamental head-dresses. It has always been a mystery as to how the heads were moved to where they now stand. Recent research and experimentation have shown that they were likely carved with a slightly rounded base. With ropes attached to stop them toppling forwards and ropes to either side they could be rocked and ‘walked’ to their destinations. Once in place, the base was made flat so they’d stand alone. Before your eyes glaze over, I’ll add the link here to the article about it. It’s pretty fascinating reading. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-02/rapa-nui-easter-island-moai-creation-and-movement-explained/106077706 Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons, courtesy of Mike W.

17 people like this

16 responses

@AmbiePam (110627)

• United States

10 Jan

That would make sense. I’ve always been fascinated by Easter Island.

4 people like this

@jstory07 (147244)

• Roseburg, Oregon

10 Jan

Those statues are amazing. We went to Easter Island when I was young.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

That would have been fascinating. Do you remember much about the trip?

2 people like this

@jstory07 (147244)

• Roseburg, Oregon

10 Jan

@JudyEv Just seeing the statues.

2 people like this

@snowy22315 (201648)

• United States

10 Jan

Where there is a will, there is a way. Look at the pyramids.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

Yes, that's another miracle.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (491269)

• Italy

10 Jan

May be they solved the mystery, but we will never know for sure.

2 people like this

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@LadyDuck (491269)

• Italy

11 Jan

@JudyEv - I know, but the fact that you can do something, it does not mean that this was the method the ancient people used. They also showed how "may be" the large blocks to build the pyramids were moved, but still it's just a guessing.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jan

No, that's true but the archeologists were able to move a statue in that way.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan

@LadyDuck Yes, you're right but at least they've now come up with one idea that could have worked.

2 people like this

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@moffittjc (127123)

• Gainesville, Florida

10 Jan

I actually like the allure of NOT knowing the true meaning of their existence. The mystery of their origins and purpose is exactly what makes them so appealing to me.

2 people like this

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@moffittjc (127123)

• Gainesville, Florida

12 Jan

@JudyEv I like the thought of them serving some really significant purpose, and would be completely disappointed if we ever found out the truth, and it was less than extraordinary. Say, for example, that they were nothing more than art pieces from a guy on the island who was bored and had too much time on his hands.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan

@moffittjc And had power tools and a crane!!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jan

I know what you're saying and I agree really. Once you know it's not 'magic', then it becomes hard work maybe but a bit ho hum.

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@MarieCoyle (53655)

•

10 Jan

I have done some reading about these in the past, I wish I could see them. Can you imagine the work it took to drag those stones around? Just incredible.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

I can't imagine how many men on a rope it would take just to pull these upright.

2 people like this

@MarieCoyle (53655)

•

11 Jan

@JudyEv And any ropes or tools had to made. They wouldn't be like our ropes of today.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan

@MarieCoyle True. The ropes would have to be very strong.

2 people like this

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@GardenGerty (167284)

• United States

10 Jan

Can you just imagine what those "walking" statues would have looked like? To see them and their "handlers" moving across the ground?

2 people like this

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@Fleura (33508)

• United Kingdom

13 Jan

Apparently the legend has it that they walked into position during the night. If you watch the clip, they can be 'walked'; imagine if you saw that happen at night, it would be terrifying if you didn't know what it was (quite creepy even if you do!) - maybe they had some secret society of 'priests' who took care of them and moved them during the hours of darkness!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jan

There is a video clip in the article which shows them walking one. So interesting.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan

@Fleura Yes, creepy indeed.

1 person likes this

@rsa101 (40617)

• Philippines

12 Jan

I am more curious about why they did that to just left the island empty? Why did they do that the left it there for no reason at all. I guess it has something there.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan

There have always been people on the island. They believe the statues were part of their religious beliefs.

2 people like this

@celticeagle (184571)

• Boise, Idaho

10 Jan

I found the ones I read and videos I watched about how marble and other heavy building materials were moved in other areas fascinating too. People back then were determined to find a way. That's for sure.

2 people like this

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@celticeagle (184571)

• Boise, Idaho

13 Jan

@JudyEv .........It is amazing.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jan

It's amazing how inventive they were.

2 people like this

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luisadannointed

@luisadannointed (10132)

• Philippines

10 Jan

You can really underestimate the minds of the people before even though technology is not as advanced today.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jan

They were very clever and very inventive in those days.

1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (128264)

• Marion, Ohio

10 Jan

That would work to move them. Building the pyramids was always fascinating too.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jan

There is a short clip showing them doing it and it certainly works.

2 people like this

@RasmaSandra (93191)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

10 Jan

Thank you for the info. Places like Easter Island have always fascinated me.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jan

For a long time they couldn't work out how they were moved.

2 people like this

Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (67645)

• Centralia, Washington

10 Jan

I believe there are large stones like this in France, too. Quite the marvel to think about.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan

With the new techniques available they are finding out a lot more about these statues.

2 people like this

@LindaOHio (211466)

• United States

11 Jan

That's still a lot of work times 1,000 statues.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jan

I suppose it was over a good few years but yes, it would have been a lot of work.

2 people like this

@Fleura (33508)

• United Kingdom

13 Jan

That is really interesting, I read the article too and the clip of the moai (is that singular?) 'walking' is impressive, but fascinating - and slightly creepy!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jan

They'd have to stand the thing up first, walk it to its place, then lower it to flatten the base then lift it again. It's pretty mind-boggling.

1 person likes this

@JESSY3236 (21410)

• United States

13 Jan

That's a very interesting article.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369758)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan

People way back then were very innovative and found ways to do the most amazing things.

1 person likes this