"'We see separate workshops that really align to different clan groups that are working intensively in their specific areas.'"
"'You can really see graphically from the construction that there's a series of statues being made here, another series of statues here and that they're lined up next to each other.'"
"'The quarry is like the archaeological Disneyland,'"
"'It's always been this treasure of information and cultural heritage, but it's remarkably underdocumented.'"
Archaeological evidence indicates that the Rapa Nui moai were produced by small clan- or family-based teams rather than a single centralized chiefdom. A new 3D model of the Rano Raraku quarry revealed roughly 30 distinct workshops, each displaying unique artistic styles, specialized techniques, and preferred digging sites. Individual statues could have been carved and prepared by as few as four to six people. Moai production began around the 13th century and expanded until nearly 1,000 statues dotted the island by the 1700s, with many unfinished figures remaining in the quarry. Production clusters reflect localized, clan-aligned activity.
Read at Mail Online
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