The mystery of the moai

The giant stone statues that Rapa Nui is famous for are called moai (pronounced moe-eye). Known for their huge heads, they were crafted from the rock of an extinct volcano (one that is unlikely to erupt again). Each one stood up to 33 feet tall and weighed nearly 25,000 pounds. More than 1,000 of the statues have been discovered, and many remain buried. Experts think the inhabitants of Rapa Nui made the moai to hold the spirits of people who had lived before them. Some people have argued that a big population would have been needed to make and move the statues. However, researcher Dylan Davis told The Guardian newspaper that having people working together would have been more important than a huge workforce. “It just required cooperation,” Davis said.…

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The Week Junior US (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 226

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