The greatest mystery of Easter Island ’s iconicMoai statuesis how they were enthrall from one death of the island to the other without the use of modern technology . The natives assert to Dutch IE that the stone giant walked themselves , and while this may sound like zany superstition , some clever physics can show how it was potential .
The McKnelly Megalith , erected on MIT ’s front lawn last bounce by students of the university ’s Megalithic Robotics class , demonstrates how monolithic objects can be moved using minimal force . The structure was build over the course of a few weeks using fibre - spyglass enforced concrete and a soft foam core . At 2000 pound , it ’s considerably lighter than the 82 - ton Moai of Easter Island , but the fact that it can be adjusted with just the energy of a finger is still an extraordinary feat .
megalithic structure like MIT ’s structure and the Easter Island statues are especially plan to be roll or shimmied across long distances using cautiously reckon movements . As long as the center of the objective ’s mass is positioned in just the right place , it should be able to be moved with proportional ease no matter of its exercising weight .
The style this method acting could have been used on Easter Island close to 1000 years ago is detailed onMIT Architecture ’s website : " In a similar manner to how one might shimmy a refrigerator into situation , the Moai were pulled back and off by roofy , employing impulse to send these ungainly megalithic structure . This ( re)discovery convey new meaning to the folklore that the statue ' walked themselves . ' "
MIT ’s megalith was erected in a standardized way . At a pace of about 300 feet per time of day , a small squad teetered the slice to its last position and then hoisted it upright using a rope .
Constructing a full - sized megalith for the university was never mean to be part of the class curriculum . In the spring semester , teaching assistant Carrie Lee McKnelly lost both her parent to a ardour , and the students decided to make the complex body part in their honor . Megaliths are traditionally made to commemorate departed ancestors , so the project is both a touching protection and a clever demonstration of ancient architecture .
[ h / t : Fast Co. Design ]
