moai

/ ˈməʊaɪ /

noun

1. any of the gigantic carved stone figures found on Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

Word History and Origins

Origin of moai¹

from Rapanui (the Polynesian language of Easter Island), literally: statue, figurine

Example Sentences

For years, researchers have puzzled over how the ancient people of Rapa Nui did the seemingly impossible and moved their iconic moai statues.

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Studying nearly 1,000 moai statues, Binghamton University Professor of Anthropology Carl Lipo and the University of Arizona's Terry Hunt found that the people of Rapa Nui likely used rope and "walked" the giant statues in a zig-zag motion along carefully designed roads.

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To explore how a larger statue might move, Lipo's team created high-resolution 3D models of the moai and identified distinctive design features - wide D-shaped bases and a forward lean - that would make them more likely to be moved in a rocking, zig-zagging motion.

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Putting their theory to the test, the team built a 4.35-ton replica moai with the distinct 'forward-lean' design.

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With just 18 people, the team was able to transport the moai 100 meters in just 40 minutes, a marked improvement over previous vertical transport attempts.

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