Hidden Secrets of Easter Island

Modem archaeological scientists and engineers try and recreate and decipher the mystery of Easter Island's Moai statues by experimenting with archaic engineering methods and mysterious practices. Curved from stone, the human figures have over-sized heads, often resting on massive rock platforms called ahus, partially buried underground. 1,000 statues exist on the island, 30 feet tall, weighing a colossal 75 tons, scattered about the barren landscape in the mountains and close to the ocean. Society and tradition was tribal and primitive, with black magic priests and chieftains writing strange hieroglyphic languages known as rongorongo. Not unlike Europe's Stonehenge, this civilization constructed and moved these monolithic sculptures without present-day tools and equipment.

[Xanderfied]

Turns out that while they didn’t have the tools to create those statues, there was a Home Depot on the island next door. They were able to rent most of the tools they needed at a reasonable price. They were also able to browse some paint samples needed to spruce them up when completed.

[rozniyusof]

"Hey dum-dum! Got some gum-gum?"

[valkyriesardo]

The statue walking theory makes sense to me. I move furniture in much the same way. You upend the piece, tilt it onto one corner, then pivot onto another corner. If you can keep it balanced, then you don't have to bear any of the weight.

[wallymomoni]

The ancestors are watching this video and laughing away

[LaughableSynonyms]

What do you mean..."no metal tools" and not discovering the wheel? Polys didnt need it, Our Waka were built with only wood and flax rope, we had wayfinding, so there was no need for compass. Just because civilisations in the west had the wheel and depended on such a technology doesnt mean the whole world needs to have that technology, we found our own way to do things.

[rtel]

why do they ask scientists on how to move things, i reckon if they hired a bunch of furniture movers they will find the easiest and the best way to move it

[KODAKONES]

concrete specialist "this is a more sustainable mix" * opens huge bag of microscopic polystyrene particles into the air.*

[JamesDeziel]

Just skip to the end to see them moving it like grandma moves her fridge away from the wall....save yourself 40 minutes of being asked questions by the narrator.

[carloscruz]

I hate watching documentaries like this. I feel like we're always underestimating the ingenuity of people of the past.

[mmawarfare]

How is hard for people to believe that maybe Polynesians were not as "primitive" as people thought. Let's not forget they are known as the greatest sea navigators of all time. Polynesians were migrating all over the pacific in a time where Europeans were scared of the sea.

[stargazrBrass]

Why is it so amazing that a ancient people can make something so amazing with primitive tools. These people used what they had to make what they wanted. It lasted over the years because they used permanent items available to them then. We are such a disposable society today, in two thousand years there will be nothing of yours left, but trash. Give these people some credit.

[paramoreparks]

I got goosebumps once he started walking. Very informative, beautiful video. Good job guys!

[MusicJay]

It'd be funny as hell if the ancient people just made them to mess with the heads of future people :P

[brucelee]

How did they get them to stand upright? How were they able to produce heavy duty ropes? And how did they move them onto an elevated platform?

[DMWBN]

Sorry but I burst out laughing when he said "they walked 12 miles"

[EasyMadeArt]

Should be revising for my exams but instead i watch an Easter island documentary. nice.

[jonathanbennetts]

I have a masters degree in History. This is why i love the subject, were finding out new shit every day, it really is the best subject to learn. What I learned 20 years ago from text books is wrong now, you really do need to keep up.

[whatzittooya]

I don't even want to know more about the statues I want to know about the people who lived on the island

[ToffeeHamsters]

They moulded and manifested with thought, intention and source energy xx

[tinderbox]

Funny how the academics' experiment only succeeded once they took input from the working people involved, about adding the third top rope to stabilize the statue forward. Didn't give credit where it was due either.