News Archaeology

This theory suggests few workers were needed to cap Easter Island statues

People might have pulled cylinders up a ramp with ropes, then tipped the ‘hats’ onto statues

Easter Island statues

ISLAND WEAR  A new analysis concludes that colossal stones placed on top of some Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, statues were rolled up earthen ramps by small groups of people using only long ropes.

C. Lipo

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

The story of how some of the massive stone statues on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, ended up wearing stone hats involves ramps, ropes and remarkably few workers, a contested new analysis suggests.