Archaeologists discover moai statue in dried lakebed on Easter Island

Archaeologists identified a moai, a traditional stone statue, lying face-up in a dried lake basin on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island.

The discovery occurred in February 2023 within the Rano Raraku crater, a volcanic site where local people historically carved many of the island's famous monuments. Terry Hunt, an anthropology professor at the University of Arizona, noted that the five-foot statue was moved from an adjacent crater wall where it was carved from bedrock.

While the statue's exact age is currently unknown, Hunt suggested its small size might indicate it belongs to the early period of the carving tradition. This period spans from the arrival of Polynesians around 1200 to the arrival of Europeans in 1722. The discovery raises questions about early quarrying activities and construction styles on the island.

Hunt considered using ground-penetrating radar to locate more buried statues without disturbing the ground, though he noted that excavation in the quarry is unlikely due to conservation concerns and the feelings of the local community. Researchers must currently balance the need to access archaeological evidence with the goal of preserving the eroding volcanic tuff stone.