Buzz
Easter Island is full of intrigue, from the downfall of its once-thriving society to the enigmatic origins of its moai statues. As reported by Ars Technica, a group of researchers might have solved one aspect of this puzzle: the rationale behind the strategic placement of the island's famous statues in select locations instead of others.
In their published study in the journal PLOS One, the researchers suggest that the ancient islanders positioned the moai statues near crucial fresh water sources. While this might seem perplexing when looking at the island's geography, as most of these stone figures are situated along the coastline, it provides new insight.
However, the researchers argue that these statues were intended as markers for hidden water reserves. On Easter Island, as with other volcanic islands, underground volcanic channels transport fresh water into the sea, creating pockets of potable water surrounded by the salty ocean. Given the island's limited fresh water, its inhabitants likely depended on these water pockets for survival.
When researchers identified these offshore water sources, they discovered either moai statues or the platforms that once supported them near each location. This wasn't a case of islanders placing moai randomly along the coast: Additional analysis showed that the presence of a freshwater pocket was the most significant factor determining where an Easter Island statue would be positioned.
The limited natural resources of Easter Island add to the mystery surrounding its ancient inhabitants. At its peak, the island may have supported a population of 17,500, and the islanders' intricate social structure enabled them to accomplish impressive feats, such as carving and moving 81-ton statues across the island. While we now have some understanding of why the moai were positioned where they were, the question of how they were transported remains unresolved.
