Jo Anne Van Tilburg, PhD discusses her upcoming research project on Easter Island including her recently completed digital mapping of Rano Raraku quarry, the place of origin of nearly 95% of over 1000 monolithic stone statues, has yielded new insights into quarrying techniques and raised new questions about transport methods. This lecture highlights field goals and methods and describes the interplay of research and conservation.
Announcement of Dr Tilburg’s research grant and description of the project follows:
THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA SELECTS EASTER ISLAND AS ITS SECOND SITE PRESERVATION PROGRAM PROJECT
Conservation Project Will Protect and Preserve Easter Island’s Rapa Nui Famous Monolithic Moai Statues
BOSTON The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) (http://www.archaeological.org), North America’s oldest and largest organization devoted to the world of archaeology, has selected Easter Island’s Rapa Nui sculptures in Chile as its second site preservation project. With a $94,000 grant from the organization’s AIA Site Preservation Task Force, the Easter Island Statue Project will develop stone preservation techniques to arrest the rapid deterioration of these statues as a result of the fragile nature of their volcanic stone, climate change and tourism. The Easter Island Statue Project is directed by UCLA archaeologist Jo Anne Van Tilburg and co-directed by Cristián Arévalo Pakarati.
A grant will jumpstart our efforts to preserve this remarkable cultural resource for future Rapanui generations and the world at large, said Van Tilburg. “The fragility of the stone, coupled with the fact that Rano Raraku is a major tourist destination, creates an urgent conservation imperative. We thank the AIA for its assistance in this monumental task.”
The project will initially focus upon the conservation of the Rano Raraku interior quarry, which Van Tilburg and her team have recently mapped in a model documentation project using the latest in digital technology. The source of nearly all of the island’s 1000 statues, Rano Raraku is a striking landmark filled with more than 400 statues in all stages of completion. The knowledge gained in the Rano Raraku conservation study will then be employed to preserve the other numerous statues located throughout the island.
“Our selection of the Easter Island Statue Project and our first preservation project, restoring and preserving the magnificent Temple of Athena in Turkey, which is well underway, exemplify the model of preservation the AIA seeks to promote,” said University of Pennsylvania archaeologist and AIA Task Force Co-chairman Larry Coben. Not only will this initiative preserve these cultural icons using the highest technical standards, but it will also demonstrate the parallels between good field archaeology, successful preservation and the empowerment of, and economic development for, local communities.”
Both the Easter Island and Temple of Athena projects are part of the AIA’s long-term conservation strategy to combat the loss of the world’s priceless cultural heritage. The AIA Site Preservation Task Force, a group of volunteers consisting of archaeologists and business, economic, development and international relations experts, was formed in 2008 in response to the rapidly accelerating destruction of ancient monuments and sites due to war, looting, extreme weather, alternative economic uses and neglect. In addition to sustainable preservation, the Task Force provides resources and education to empower and encourage economic development in local communities.
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