The Secret of the Moai Statues: The Mystery of the Walking Giants Revived by Ancient Wisdom - Putting an End to a 500-Year-Old Mystery: The Giants of Rapa Nui "Walked Upright" with Ropes

Answering a 500-year-old question with "walked"

How were the Moai statues of Rapa Nui transported across cliffs and rugged terrain to the ceremonial platforms (Ahu) around the island? Various hypotheses have been proposed, including the log sled theory, sled plus roller theory, and the giant sled theory. However, a study published in October 2025 favored a simple yet bold method: "walking" the statues upright. The research team demonstrated the feasibility of this method through physical simulations, 3D shape analysis, and full-scale outdoor experiments. ScienceDaily

Core of the Research: The Shape Enables "Walking"

The key lies in the "design" of the Moai. High-precision 3D model analysis showed that many Moai have a slight forward tilt and a D-shaped expanded base . When rhythmically rocked with ropes on either side, this design creates a zigzag trajectory , allowing the statue to autonomously "step forward." In other words, the statue itself was optimized as a "walking device." ScienceDaily

Outdoor Experiment: 4.35 Tons, 18 People, 100m/40 Minutes

The team created a 4.35-ton replica and conducted a mobility test using three ropes on either side and the back. The result was 18 people moving it 100 meters in about 40 minutes —more efficient and with fewer people than previous vertical transport attempts. The experiment visualized the rhythm of lateral rocking→forward movement consistent with the island's road remains, confirming that this method could be more advantageous as the scale increases. binghamton.edu

The Dual Role of Roads

The roads remaining on the island, about 4.5 meters wide with a concave cross-section , have often been interpreted as "ceremonial paths." However, this study points out their function as **guides** that prevent tipping while aiding forward movement. Overlapping traces of leveling and widening suggest a chain of work where "the road was extended each time a statue was transported." ScienceDaily

Tradition and Science Shake Hands: 2012→2025

The oral tradition that "Moai walked" has been passed down for ages. In 2012, the same research group gained attention by successfully "walking" a nearly 5-ton statue with 18 people in a public experiment supported by National Geographic. The new paper integrates over a decade of data accumulation, systematic analysis of 962 statues , and improved field experiments, elevating the hypothesis to an academic level of confirmation . Smithsonian Magazine

Key Points of the Paper and Press

The research findings were published in the Journal of Archaeological Science on October 8, 2025. Announcements from Binghamton University, EurekAlert, and Phys.org emphasized the alignment of design × physics with "small number of people + ropes + forward tilt & D-shaped base" . The alignment with oral traditions and road remains, as well as the presentation of the burden of proof against other hypotheses, shifted the focus of the debate. ScienceDirect

Remaining Issues and Healthy Skepticism

Of course, not everything is settled. The long-distance transport of giant statues (>80 tons) , ascending and descending slopes, stability in strong winds, and the chronological alignment of tipping marks and roads remain areas for future verification. However, the accumulation of facts that are difficult to explain without "walking" (forward tilt, D-shaped base, concave roads, and the pattern of fallen statues along roads) is a strength that withstands critical scrutiny. ScienceDaily

SNS Reactions: Amazement, Praise, "Déjà Vu," and Pride

Immediately after the announcement, there was a significant buzz on social media and forums. Along with the amazement of **"Did they really walk?", those who remembered the 2012 experiment viewed it positively as "an academic version of the comprehensive summary" . On a science-related forum, a comment positioning the "2012 public experiment as a prototype and the 2025 paper as the culmination of over a decade of research" gained support. Meanwhile, there were calm calls for "reproducibility with the heaviest statues" and "long-distance practical demonstration." Reddit

Examples:
・"I saw the 2012 'walking Moai,' but this time the 3D analysis and road evidence make it close to a 'decisive blow'" (summary)
・"Verification with the largest statues and under adverse conditions is the next challenge" (summary)
(※The above is a summary of the post's intent. Quotations of proper names are omitted)

Cultural Implications: Ancestors' "Environmental Adaptation" Technology

The research team evaluates the design philosophy of making Moai "walk" as an optimal solution adapted to resource constraints . In an environment without large domestic animals or wheels, they achieved maximum effect with minimal materials (ropes) and personnel . This concept is also related to modern energy-saving construction, disaster transport, and warehouse **"rocking transport"** technology. ScienceDaily

Implications for Tourism and Conservation

Recently, in Rapa Nui, there are predictions that rising sea levels and storm surges pose a threat to the Moai statues. To protect the cultural landscape, it is important to strengthen climate adaptation measures and create visitor routes that do not burden the remains. The findings of this study can be incorporated into tourism explanations to deepen visitors' understanding of the meaning of roads and locations based on "walking" . ScienceDaily

Conclusion: Updating the Memory of Tradition with Science

The narrative that "Moai walked" is likely not an exaggeration or myth. When understood as a system where design (forward tilt, D-shaped base) × physics × road remains interact, ancient transportation appears as "optimal logistics without heavy machinery." The debate will likely continue, but this study has significantly reshaped the **"standard of the leading hypothesis."** ScienceDirect