Moai, quarries and roads. Experiences and results of geophysical survey on Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Rapa Nui or Easter Island is home to some of the most recognisable archaeological monuments in the world, the iconic monolithic moai statues. The island is situated in the Eastern Pacific, approximately 3 000 km west of the coast of Chile and 2 500 km from Tahiti. The isolated location of the island is due in part to its formation by a series of volcanic eruptions. The differing stone types formed as a result of this volcanic activity are a key element in the monumental structures such as the...