# How were the moai moved from the quarry to the ahu? · Easter Island moai > Three answers have been proposed. Statues were moved upright, rocked forward with ropes by small teams along prepared roads. leads, with evidence 4 for… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/easter-island-moai/questions/QST0CTG303E013Y/how-were-the-moai-moved-from-the-quarry-to-the-ahu Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:21+00:00 --- **0** # How were the moai moved from the quarry to the ahu? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: statues were moved upright, rocked forward with ropes by small teams along prepared roads** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Statues were moved upright, rocked forward with ropes by small teams along prepared roads. leads, with evidence 4 for, 1 against: supported by its tests. Two are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters Statues of up to 80 tonnes travelled up to 18 km without wheels, draught animals or large timber; the method decides how much labour and wood the work took, which feeds the collapse debate⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTG2QST58KZ/the-walking-megalithic-statues-moai-of-easter-island)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTG2R1M3QWE/the-walking-moai-hypothesis-archaeological-evidence). ## Answers 3 [**Statues were moved upright, rocked forward with ropes by small teams along prepared roads.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/easter-island-moai/answers/ANS0CTG312P33K5/statues-were-moved-upright-rocked-forward-with-ropes-by) Supported by its tests Evidence: 4 for, 1 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/easter-island-moai/answers/ANS0CTG33905ADH/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**Statues were dragged horizontally on wooden sledges or rollers.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/easter-island-moai/answers/ANS0CTG32HJ5FAS/statues-were-dragged-horizontally-on-wooden-sledges-or) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 2013[Lipo et al. puts forward: statues were moved upright, rocked forward with ropes by small teams along prepared roads.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTG2QST58KZ/the-walking-megalithic-statues-moai-of-easter-island) 1. 2013[Lipo et al.: road moai have D-shaped bases and a forward centre of mass; ahu moai have trimmed flat bases.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTG2QST58KZ/the-walking-megalithic-statues-moai-of-easter-island)For: Statues were moved upright, rocked forward with ropes by small teams along prepared roads. 1. 2013[Lipo et al.: road statues differ systematically in base form from finished ahu statues, which a horizontal method does not…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTG2QST58KZ/the-walking-megalithic-statues-moai-of-easter-island)Against: Statues were dragged horizontally on wooden sledges or rollers. 1. 2025[Lipo & Hunt puts forward: statues were dragged horizontally on wooden sledges or rollers.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTG2R1M3QWE/the-walking-moai-hypothesis-archaeological-evidence) 1. 2025[Lipo & Hunt: no full-size tuff statue has been walked, and the largest moved statues are 20 times the replica's mass.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTG2R1M3QWE/the-walking-moai-hypothesis-archaeological-evidence)Against: Statues were moved upright, rocked forward with ropes by small teams along prepared roads. 1. 2025[Lipo & Hunt: fall orientations on slopes match walking.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTG2R1M3QWE/the-walking-moai-hypothesis-archaeological-evidence)For: Statues were moved upright, rocked forward with ropes by small teams along prepared roads. 1. 2025[Lipo & Hunt: a 1998 horizontal-sled experiment moved a replica but needed many more people per tonne.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTG2R1M3QWE/the-walking-moai-hypothesis-archaeological-evidence)For: Statues were dragged horizontally on wooden sledges or rollers. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/easter-island-moai/questions/QST0CTG303E013Y/how-were-the-moai-moved-from-the-quarry-to-the-ahu%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/easter-island-moai/questions/QST0CTG303E013Y/how-were-the-moai-moved-from-the-quarry-to-the-ahu%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/easter-island-moai/questions/QST0CTG303E013Y/how-were-the-moai-moved-from-the-quarry-to-the-ahu%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/easter-island-moai/questions/QST0CTG303E013Y/how-were-the-moai-moved-from-the-quarry-to-the-ahu%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/easter-island-moai/questions/QST0CTG303E013Y/how-were-the-moai-moved-from-the-quarry-to-the-ahu%23add-source) Where it fits Easter Island moai **How were the moai moved from the quarry to the ahu?** Key question · you're here [Who organised the carving and moving of the statues?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/easter-island-moai/questions/QST0CTG30K20GMV/who-organised-the-carving-and-moving-of-the-statues)Most likely · many independent kin groups carved and moved statues, sharing a tradition but not a central authority [ Ask a question under this one ]