Living Room Lecture: Forensic Analysis of Moai Transport
Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Moai weighing tens of tons were quarried of Rano Raraku tuff and transported kilometers across the island. Researchers have proposed at least five different methods for achieving this re-location. However, no previous studies have considered the structural engineering limitations of the moai transport methods themselves. This paper applies structural engineering analysis to the moai transport methods proposed by Heyerdahl, Hunt&Lippo, Pavel, Mulloy, Love, and Van Tilburg. A typical size moai was assumed for purposes of analysis. Moai were modeled as right circular cylinders. Structural analyses showed that four of the proposed transport methods were structurally sound. Erosive wear of the moai’s base during the “refrigerator walk” method could not be analyzed due to lack of erosive wear data. However, the bases of the moai studied do not show the qualitative wear one would expect from the “refrigerator walk”. It was found that palm tree trunks could support the requisite loads if multiple trunks were used at load points. Transport stability limits, i.e. moai static tipping limits, were established. This event will be held on Zoom. Pay what you wish