Honors College Speaker Series: Dr. Terry Hunt, "New Research Resolves Some Big Questions About Easter Island (Rapa Nui)"

March 12, 2021

Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 - 17:00 to Monday, February 28, 2022 - 13:20

New Research Resolves Some Big Questions About Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

March 16, 2021
5:00-6:00 p.m. Arizona Time (US and Canada)

Join the University of Arizona Honors College for the first webinar of 2021 for Honors alumni and friends.

Honors College Dean and Professor of Anthropology, Dr. Terry Hunt, shares more discoveries from new and continuing research on Easter Island (Rapa Nui).

In our earlier webinar (held in August 2020), Dr. Hunt revealed how the massive megalithic statues (moai) were transported using ingenious design that enabled “walking” using only ropes and requiring a relatively small number of people in the effort. In this presentation, Dr. Hunt will address the longstanding mystery of how multi-ton “hats” (pukao) were placed atop the colossal statues.  He will also show why the impressive monumental architecture of the island was built where it was. The newest research explains why some monumental structures were large, while others were smaller, and why they were placed where they were. The statues and architecture of Rapa Nui played an integral role in social aspects of the ancient islanders.

We hope you’ll join us for this fascinating presentation!

Dr. Terry Hunt is the dean of the University of Arizona Honors College, and an internationally renowned anthropologist, archaeologist and educator. His ground-breaking research has been the subject of a full-length National Geographic-NOVA TV documentary as well as a National Geographic magazine cover story. His book co-authored with Carl Lipo, The Statues that Walked, won the Society for American Archaeology’s book of the year award.

Questions may be submitted ahead of time to Candice Crossey at crossey@email.arizona.edu, or you can submit questions during the live event via the Q&A feature. Register for the Zoom link, and be sure to tell a friend!