Easter Island Statue Project Official Website

Moai Paro Digital Reconstruction


Moai Paro (30-220-001) is the tallest (989 cm) statue ever successfully raised upright on a ceremonial platform. It weighs approximately 82 m tons and wore a red scoria pukao (30-220-004) that added another 11-12 m tons of weight to the statue. Previously investigated by C. Smith and W. Mulloy, we documented it first in 1984 and 1991.

Reconstruction diagram of Moai Paro. ©2000 EISP/JVT/Drawing: Cristián Arévalo Pakarati.Working diagram detailing specific measuemrents of Moai Paro. ©1999 EISP/JVT/Sketch: Cristián Arévalo Pakarati.Moai Paro in situ. ©2002 EISP/JVT/Photos: J. Van Tilburg.Pukao (topknot) belonging to Moai Paro. ©2002 EISP/JVT/Photos: J. Van Tilburg.

In an effort to better understand Moai Paro in the context of Ahu Te Pito Kura and its natural environs, in 1999 and 2000-2002 we digitally reconstructed the statue using photographs, measurements and detailed drawings. On-site documentation required for this work was carried out by Cristián Arévalo Pakarati.


Film stills captured from a computer animation showing the 360° view of Moai Paro being re-erected onto its ahu. ©2002 EISP/JVT/Animation: Arnold Animations.Film stills captured from a computer animation showing the 360° view of Moai Paro being re-erected onto its ahu. ©2002 EISP/JVT/Animation: Arnold Animations.Film stills captured from a computer animation showing the 360° view of Moai Paro being re-erected onto its ahu. ©2002 EISP/JVT/Animation: Arnold Animations.


Posted on May 5th, 2009 by EISP Staff | Category: 2000s, Field Notes & Documents |