Overview

• The peer‑reviewed paper by anthropologists Carl Lipo and Terry Hunt appears in the Journal of Archaeological Science.
• 3D analyses of nearly 1,000 statues highlight D‑shaped bases that permit a stable, step‑like rocking motion during transport.
• The authors cite a 4.35‑ton replica moved 100 meters in 40 minutes, with media reports differing on the team size involved, listing either 18 or 40 participants.
• The study argues against the traditional horizontal log‑roller model, proposing upright movement controlled by ropes as a more feasible approach.
• The authors also question the long‑standing ‘ecocide’ narrative for Rapa Nui’s decline, pointing to external disruptions, while critics such as Jared Diamond continue to doubt the method’s real‑terrain viability.