Easter Island Wooden Sculpture

Apparently the construction of the moai required widespread deforestation, resulting in the erosion of Easter Island's fertile soil. These carvings represent starving people in a collapsing society

The winner of the Birdman competition was made king of the island for a year. The contest continued until the islanders converted to Christianity in the 1880s
Easter Island's rich and tragic past

The wood carvings are all the more remarkable because Easter Island had been largely deforested by the 18th century. Did the tribesmen reuse the wood used to roll the moai or did they salvage driftwood from the beach?

There are scientists who are now questioning the existance of trees at any time on the Island.

There are quite a few "fringe" theories out there, that's one of them. This whole question comes up because of the idea that the inhabitants moved the Moai on wooden rollers.  If it's proved that there weren't any trees, then the question becomes "how did they do this".  The legends of the Rapi Nui speak of the statues "walking" to their platforms.  This isn't the only case of this kind.  On Nan Nadol, where huge basltic columns were transported 50 miles to construct artificial islands, legend has it that the stones were caused to move on their own by "magic".  If something isn't understood it's magic.  The minute you understand whatever process, it becomes science.  I firmly believe they had a simple but very old technology that allowed them to move large stones. This may be what was rediscovered by a man in Florida some years back.

Originally posted by red clay There are quite a few "fringe" theories out there, that's one of them. This whole question comes up because of the idea that the inhabitants moved the Moai on wooden rollers.  If it's proved that there weren't any trees, then the question becomes "how did they do this".  The legends of the Rapi Nui speak of the statues "walking" to their platforms.  This isn't the only case of this kind.  On Nan Nadol, where huge basltic columns were transported 50 miles to construct artificial islands, legend has it that the stones were caused to move on their own by "magic".  If something isn't understood it's magic.  The minute you understand whatever process, it becomes science.  I firmly believe they had a simple but very old technology that allowed them to move large stones. This may be what was rediscovered by a man in Florida some years back. Google- Coral Castle.

My guess is that walking, and moving on their own, denotes movement in an upright position. The question for me is, with sizeable structures like these, what is possible and what is impossible in terms of being moved upright, that is if what has been suggested means upright?

Edited by TheAlaniDragonRising - 09-Jun-2012 at 09:48

Originally posted by Sidney Those wooden sculptures look remarkably well preserved. How old are they? I suspect a tourist/foreign trade created market.

 

Originally posted by red clay There are scientists who are now questioning the existance of trees at any time on the Island.

Edited by Cryptic - 10-Jun-2012 at 23:11