The truth behind the 'walking' statues of Easter Island

In a remote patch of the Pacific Ocean lies Rapa Nui, otherwise known as Easter Island. It’s a tiny, windswept place, famed for its colossal Moai – mysterious stone figures that each weigh more than a Boeing 737 plane.

For years, the island has been the subject of intrigue. Who built the Moai? How did they move such huge statues without the use of modern tools? And where did the society go? The dominant narrative for decades was that conflict and overexploitation of the island’s natural resources led to population collapse. But now, new evidence is painting a radically different picture – one of hardship, maltreatment and ultimately resilience.