NOVA Online (click here for NOVA home)
Secrets of Lost Empires


Move the Moai Move the Moai (125K)

Shockwave required

Move the Moai
originally appeared on Secrets of Easter Island

According to a survey by archeologist Jo Anne Van Tilburg, the Easter Islanders successfully transported 288 moai statues to various ahu platforms around the island.

We're only proposing that you move one, a virtual one at that. But it's heavy (moais average 14 tons in weight), and the workers you'll employ have a limited stock of energy and must be fed sweet potatoes (an island staple) to maintain their strength. You'll want to use some of those sweet potatoes to grease the track beneath your moai, but be sure to leave enough for your hungry laborers.

Ready to move a moai? Then let's proceed.



Vince Lee's Uphill Battle | NOVA Moves a Megalith | How Big Were They?
Move the Moai | Explore Easter Island | Secrets of Easter Island | Resources | Transcript

Medieval Siege | Pharaoh's Obelisk | Easter Island | Roman Bath | China Bridge | Site Map

Editor's Picks | Previous Sites | Join Us/E-mail | TV/Web Schedule
About NOVA | Teachers | Site Map | Shop | Jobs | Search | To print
PBS Online | NOVA Online | WGBH

© | Updated November 2000