Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Institute of Archaeology
Abstract
The most prominent archaeological features of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) are the colossal stone statues (moai) dating to c. AD 1000 to AD 1600 that once stood on stone ceremonial platforms (ahu) positioned around the coastline of the island. The project aims to develop new interpretations on the organisation and meaning of these monumental construction activities and to unify the hitherto isolated research foci - of statue quarries, statue transport roads, and ahu, into an integrated Island-wide programme of landscape study, survey and excavation.
Extant moai research focuses upon the socio-economic significance of monument production, particularly the pragmatics of competing access to resources, and the mechanics of how moai were transported to the ahu. Our project offers a different perspective by investigating construction as being socially-articulated, taking place at ideologically meaningful places, with the activities being as important as the final product. The fieldwork integrates five prospecting elements: i) Landscape Survey of ahu, statue roads and statue quarries including detailed topographic mapping; ii) mapping of the audio-visual qualities of locations; iii) Geophysical and deep-ground penetrating radar prospecting to locate buried quarry workings and obscured statue transport roads and associated features; iv) Laser scanning of quarry surfaces; and v) excavation of quarry floors and spoil.
Rapa Nui is at a fragile moment in its socio-cultural history. The island has a World Heritage status and tourism is rapidly growing with weekly air flights from Santiago and Tahiti. Concurrently, the Chilean Government is in the process of returning land, all of which is dense with archaeology, to the indigenous population. The majority of Rapa Nui's monumental archaeology is deteriorating from salt damage and the vulnerability of the island's archaeology is compounded by a lack of coordinated island-wide databases or co-operative research.
Our aims are:
1. To date the chronology of statue quarrying, and compare it with known construction chronologies of the ahu .The longevity of Rapa Nui's statue production is a focus of debate. Our excavations aim to date key phases of the pre-eminent statue quarry of Rano Raraku, and of Puna Pau - the quarry for the large red 'hats' (pukao) that adorned the moai on the ahu. Rano Raraku is the only quarry to have had any excavation - by Heyerdahl's team in the 1950s, but the resulting radiocarbon dates are not refined enough to be useful. No absolute chronology exists for the use of pukao.
2. To explore the social organisation of Rapa Nui's monumental construction, particularly the organisation of quarrying. Visual inspection suggests that the Rano Raraku quarries were divided into distinct clusters of working units. We will investigate this through surface survey and geotechnical survey (see iiii) above).
3.To better understand the relationships between the landscape locations of statue quarrying, statue transport and ahu with statues. Work at the ahu has either been linked to reconstruction and conservation, or to characterising architectural components and their sequences. Our work instead focuses on them as landscape places and aims to characterise their topographic positions - together with the evidence from environmental reconstruction, and to elucidate their possible intervisibility and inter-audibility with quarries and roads.
4. For the processes and results of our work to transcend single methodological and academic traditions of the interpretation and public understandings of Rapa Nui's archaeology, and in doing so to aid broadly-informed management of the Rapanuian landscape and support Rapanuians in the self-determination of their own heritage.
Extant moai research focuses upon the socio-economic significance of monument production, particularly the pragmatics of competing access to resources, and the mechanics of how moai were transported to the ahu. Our project offers a different perspective by investigating construction as being socially-articulated, taking place at ideologically meaningful places, with the activities being as important as the final product. The fieldwork integrates five prospecting elements: i) Landscape Survey of ahu, statue roads and statue quarries including detailed topographic mapping; ii) mapping of the audio-visual qualities of locations; iii) Geophysical and deep-ground penetrating radar prospecting to locate buried quarry workings and obscured statue transport roads and associated features; iv) Laser scanning of quarry surfaces; and v) excavation of quarry floors and spoil.
Rapa Nui is at a fragile moment in its socio-cultural history. The island has a World Heritage status and tourism is rapidly growing with weekly air flights from Santiago and Tahiti. Concurrently, the Chilean Government is in the process of returning land, all of which is dense with archaeology, to the indigenous population. The majority of Rapa Nui's monumental archaeology is deteriorating from salt damage and the vulnerability of the island's archaeology is compounded by a lack of coordinated island-wide databases or co-operative research.
Our aims are:
1. To date the chronology of statue quarrying, and compare it with known construction chronologies of the ahu .The longevity of Rapa Nui's statue production is a focus of debate. Our excavations aim to date key phases of the pre-eminent statue quarry of Rano Raraku, and of Puna Pau - the quarry for the large red 'hats' (pukao) that adorned the moai on the ahu. Rano Raraku is the only quarry to have had any excavation - by Heyerdahl's team in the 1950s, but the resulting radiocarbon dates are not refined enough to be useful. No absolute chronology exists for the use of pukao.
2. To explore the social organisation of Rapa Nui's monumental construction, particularly the organisation of quarrying. Visual inspection suggests that the Rano Raraku quarries were divided into distinct clusters of working units. We will investigate this through surface survey and geotechnical survey (see iiii) above).
3.To better understand the relationships between the landscape locations of statue quarrying, statue transport and ahu with statues. Work at the ahu has either been linked to reconstruction and conservation, or to characterising architectural components and their sequences. Our work instead focuses on them as landscape places and aims to characterise their topographic positions - together with the evidence from environmental reconstruction, and to elucidate their possible intervisibility and inter-audibility with quarries and roads.
4. For the processes and results of our work to transcend single methodological and academic traditions of the interpretation and public understandings of Rapa Nui's archaeology, and in doing so to aid broadly-informed management of the Rapanuian landscape and support Rapanuians in the self-determination of their own heritage.
Planned Impact
The project collaborates with the Island's museum (MAPSE) and Chilean National Parks Authority Rapa Nui (CONAF) in documenting, interpreting, presenting and conserving Rapa Nui's heritage. It will enhance the provision of heritage information for Rapanuians and provide Rapanuians with knowledge and skills to manage and interpret their heritage independently of foreign agendas. Areas in which our work will impact are:
National Government Policies
The Chilean government has recently begun returning land to Rapanuian residents, implemented through the Island's land development commission. Our survey records of the densities of prehistoric sites on the landscape will be given to the commission to assist in land management decisions and the distribution of land parcels to lesser archaeologically sensitive areas.
Local Identity/Self-determination
Our research contributes to an integrated understanding of the Island's prehistory. It will promote awareness of Island identity through enhancing heritage databases and providing accessible information - for Rapanuians, non-Rapanuian residents and visitors by:
i) Our databases being freely accessible. They will be input into MAPSE's public-access databases and added to the Rapa Nui Archaeological Database: http://www.rapanuidatabase.org/, as well as being placed with ADS in the UK
ii) A Rapa Nui-Spanish-English MAPSE exhibition of our findings (Year 4) and notice board displays and pamphlets in preceding years
iii) Adding to MAPSE's collections major cultural objects discovered during surface survey/excavation
iv) Trilingual on-site information boards and on-site talks
v) Public lectures and presentations to the Island's bodies.
Skills Transfer
We will employ Rapanuians on our fieldwork and provide training in mapping, survey, excavation, environmental sampling, and finds processing. We will train CONAF park rangers in laser scanning and geophysical survey and the utilisation of these technologies and their datasets for conservation.
Rapanuian Youth
Our fieldwork will support the training of local students in Rapa Nui's archaeology and aid the development of generic skills- mapping, and computing/technical. We will do this by:
i) Providing Rapa Nui-Spanish school powerpoint packs explaining our work and its context
ii) Hosting school visits to the excavations
iii) Working with the 'A Pó Rapa Nui Youth Involvement Program (http://www.chauvet-translation.com/apo.htm) to equip the Island's high school students to be an integral part of the documentation, study and conservation of their island's past. Our project co-director, Francisco Torres is a co-director of this programme.
Heritage Management and Conservation
It is more than ten years since Rapa Nui was placed on UNESCO's World Heritage list of cultural sites, but its management plans are still under discussion. We are working with CONAF on the development of management plans for Puna Pau and Rano Raraku. Our work at the quarries will provide focal points for tourist tours and aid CONAF's current initiatives to create new information boards and position tourist walkways to minimise site damage.
We will assist CONAF in using our laser scanning equipment to document and monitor sun and salt erosion and deterioration to quarry surfaces, statue hats and the Orongo ceremonial village. In particular we will provide high precision laser documentation of the petroglyphs of the sacred precinct at Mata Ngarau, Orongo. Mata Ngarau is located at the top of precipitous sea cliffs, which are under of threat of imminent collapse. Although sections of these petroglyphs and the associated houses of Orongo have been scanned by commercial companies they have never been fully digitally documented.
Cultural Tourism
Over 50,000 tourists visit Rapa Nui each year. The project has the potential to transform the narrative of
National Government Policies
The Chilean government has recently begun returning land to Rapanuian residents, implemented through the Island's land development commission. Our survey records of the densities of prehistoric sites on the landscape will be given to the commission to assist in land management decisions and the distribution of land parcels to lesser archaeologically sensitive areas.
Local Identity/Self-determination
Our research contributes to an integrated understanding of the Island's prehistory. It will promote awareness of Island identity through enhancing heritage databases and providing accessible information - for Rapanuians, non-Rapanuian residents and visitors by:
i) Our databases being freely accessible. They will be input into MAPSE's public-access databases and added to the Rapa Nui Archaeological Database: http://www.rapanuidatabase.org/, as well as being placed with ADS in the UK
ii) A Rapa Nui-Spanish-English MAPSE exhibition of our findings (Year 4) and notice board displays and pamphlets in preceding years
iii) Adding to MAPSE's collections major cultural objects discovered during surface survey/excavation
iv) Trilingual on-site information boards and on-site talks
v) Public lectures and presentations to the Island's bodies.
Skills Transfer
We will employ Rapanuians on our fieldwork and provide training in mapping, survey, excavation, environmental sampling, and finds processing. We will train CONAF park rangers in laser scanning and geophysical survey and the utilisation of these technologies and their datasets for conservation.
Rapanuian Youth
Our fieldwork will support the training of local students in Rapa Nui's archaeology and aid the development of generic skills- mapping, and computing/technical. We will do this by:
i) Providing Rapa Nui-Spanish school powerpoint packs explaining our work and its context
ii) Hosting school visits to the excavations
iii) Working with the 'A Pó Rapa Nui Youth Involvement Program (http://www.chauvet-translation.com/apo.htm) to equip the Island's high school students to be an integral part of the documentation, study and conservation of their island's past. Our project co-director, Francisco Torres is a co-director of this programme.
Heritage Management and Conservation
It is more than ten years since Rapa Nui was placed on UNESCO's World Heritage list of cultural sites, but its management plans are still under discussion. We are working with CONAF on the development of management plans for Puna Pau and Rano Raraku. Our work at the quarries will provide focal points for tourist tours and aid CONAF's current initiatives to create new information boards and position tourist walkways to minimise site damage.
We will assist CONAF in using our laser scanning equipment to document and monitor sun and salt erosion and deterioration to quarry surfaces, statue hats and the Orongo ceremonial village. In particular we will provide high precision laser documentation of the petroglyphs of the sacred precinct at Mata Ngarau, Orongo. Mata Ngarau is located at the top of precipitous sea cliffs, which are under of threat of imminent collapse. Although sections of these petroglyphs and the associated houses of Orongo have been scanned by commercial companies they have never been fully digitally documented.
Cultural Tourism
Over 50,000 tourists visit Rapa Nui each year. The project has the potential to transform the narrative of
Organisations
- University College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- National Monuments Council (CMN) (Collaboration)
- El Museo Antropológico Padre Sebastián Englert, el MAPSE (Collaboration)
- Rapa Nui National Park (Collaboration)
- National Forest Corporation (Collaboration)
- University of the Highlands and Islands (Project Partner)
Publications
Govantes-Edwards, D
(2017)
Colour and Light in Ancient and Medieval Art
Hamilton S
(2011)
Say it with stone: constructing with stones on Easter Island
in World Archaeology
Hamilton S
(2014)
Prospección de petroglifos en forma de ojo en Rano Raraku
Hamilton S
(2015)
Trabajos en el Ara Moai (noroeste u sur) y Rano Raraku, Rapa Nui 2015
Hamilton S
(2014)
A Survey of Eye Petroglyphs at Rano Raraku, Rapa Nui
Hamilton S
(2016)
Survey on Poike, Rapa Nui
Hamilton S
(2016)
Easter Island: Culture and Historical Perspectives
| Title | Exhibition at the National Museum of Wales : Adventures in Archaeology |
| Description | To celebrate 2016 The Year of Adventure in Wales, the National Museum Cardiff is hosting an exciting new exhibition on famous explorers and uncovering treasures from around the world. LOC's work on Rapa Nui is presented as the first British expedition to Easter Island since that of Katherine Routledge in 1914. LOC will be giving a associated lecture at the museum (Hamilton, S, PI) |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Impact | Popular exhibition. Attendance figures not yet available (exhibition in progress) |
| URL | http://www.visitwales.com/latest-news/2016/january/adventures-in-archaeology-exhibition |
| Title | Making Monuments on Rapa Nui |
| Description | A major exhibition at Manchester Museum on LOC's excavation work at Puna Pau where the statue hats were quarries and a presentation of Rapa Nui's statues and associated archaeology. LOC Organiser Colin Richards (CI) Significantly, the curators were able to borrow the British Museum's lesser-known, but still impressive statue Moai Hava (meaning 'dirty statue'). This figure was brought to the UK by the crew of HMS Topaze in 1868, at the same as the British Museum's famous moai: Hoa Hakananai'a. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Impact | Very good reviews e.g. : http://museumethnographersgroup.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/making-monuments-on-rapa-nui-statues.html offering a changed perspective on the sale and cultural context of iconic statues of Rapa Nui |
| URL | http://www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/whatson/exhibitions/rapanui/ |
| Description | The funded work has resulted in a greater understanding of the characteristics and nature of Easter Island's (Rapa Nui's) society, ceremonial monuments, quarries and agricultural/domestic features during the period of statue-making (c. AD 1200-1500). The work is distinct in being on an island-wide scale and encompassing the island's archaeology as an interconnected whole rather than focusing on a restricted category of site of monument. Findings include: 1) the first dates, and detailed evidence of quarrying techniques and activities, and new evidence for roads at Puna Pau, the quarry for the famous statue hats that adorn the Rapa Nui (Easter Island) statues; 2) The routes, and the distribution and types of archaeological features associated with, and in the vicinity of, the moai (statue) roads, leading to and from the Rano Raraku statues quarries; 3) the first detailing of the characteristics of monumental eye petroglyphs at Rano Raraku statue quarry and Puna Pau, including previously unknown/not recorded examples; 4) evidence that the recumbent statues (moai) along many of the statue roads were not abandoned in transport but were originally standing monuments along the roads. This work is ongoing but will impact on traditional views of the so-called collapse of Rapa Nui statue-building societies. 5) New evidence for numerous quarries associated with the construction of ahu (the ceremonial platforms on which the statues were placed) and new evidence for the regular presence of 'canoe' ramps associated with the ahu; and 6) evidence for the chronology and long-term use of high status houses (hare paenga). The Unesco Rapa Nui heritage Landscape formerly administered by CONAF (Chilean National Parks) was handed over to the indigenous people's community, Ma'u Henua, in November 2017. In February 2018 The UCL, Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project (LOC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Ma'u Henua in recognition of LOC's work on the Island. The agreement establishes a framework in which co-operation may develop for collaboration and knowledge exchange in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage conservation, and heritage management of the Rapa Nui National Park. Since January/February 2019 we have been in discussion with Ma'u Henua concerning the best documentation procedures for the diverse archaeology of the Poike Peninsula, parts of which are undergoing severe erosion, and are using techniques of field survey and documentation developed during our AHRC funded work. |
| Exploitation Route | As a result of recent new management arrangements for Rapa Nui's National Park and an associated Climate Change Plan for Rapa Nui and its archaeology, our island-wide documentation work is of considerable aid to decision-making relating to establishing archaeological, ecological and tourist access priorities.The Unesco Rapa Nui Heritage Landscape formerly administered by CONAF (Chilean National Parks) was handed over to the indigenous people's community, Ma'u Henua, in November 2017. In February 2018 The UCL, Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project (LOC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Ma'u Henua in recognition of LOC's work on the Island. The agreement establishes a framework in which co-operation may develop for collaboration and knowledge exchange in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage conservation, and heritage management of the Rapa Nui National Park. Since January/February 2019 we have been in discussion with Ma'u Henua concerning the best documentation procedures for the archaeology of the Poike Peninsula, parts of which are undergoing the severest erosion on the island. This work will draw upon techniques of field survey and documentation developed during our AHRC funded work. Our interpretative results lead to a reassessment of the causes of the so-called collapse of Rapa Nui's statue-building society. These require ongoing detailing in terms of isolating the continuity of the use of ancient monuments and structures into more recent times. Ongoing analysis of the integrety of island-wide belief systems crossing ritual, ceremonial and domestic structures is required. This necessitates the ongoing generation of a finer-grained database on the use of resources and geologies that does not focus purely on monumentality. |
| Sectors | Education,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Description | 1) Findings: The first dates and evidence of quarrying techniques and activities, and new evidence for roads at Puna Pau, the quarry for the famous statue hats that adorn the Rapa Nui (Easter Island) statues. Impacts: World media coverage - Times Newspaper supplement 2012 and international newspaper, radio and BBC coverage. New information boards and displays at Puna Pau. National Park guides and local tourist guides trained to disseminate the new information. 2) Findings: The routes, and the distribution and types of archaeological features associated with, and in the vicinity of, the moai (statue) roads, leading to and from the Rano Raraku statues quarries. Impacts: international media coverage, request to work with National Parks Authority (CONAF) Rapa Nui in creating a National Park Heritage Trail along the statue roads. 3) Findings: First detailing of the characteristics of monumental eye petroglyphs at Rano Raraku statue quarry and Puna Pau, including previously unknown/not recorded examples. Request from CONAF Rapa Nui to train park rangers in recording quarry petroglyphs and monitoring their fragile state of preservation. These petroglyphs are now mentioned on site tours by park guides and tourist guides and change interpretations of quarrying from a solely practical activity to one that had ideological associations. 4) Findings: Evidence that the recumbent statues (moai) along many of the statue roads were not abandoned in transport but were originally standing monuments along the roads. This work is ongoing but will impact on traditional views of the so-called collapse of Rapa Nui statue-building societies. 5) Findings: New evidence for numerous quarries associated with the construction of ahu (the ceremonial platforms on which the statues were placed) and new evidence for the regular presence of 'canoe' ramps associated with the ahu. Impacts: these databases of threatened unmapped sites which are key to the totality of understanding Rapa Nui's landscape-scale heritage, have been digitally filed with CONAF Rapa Nui for incorporation into the its listing of archaeologically sensitive landscapes and will aid the identification by the Chilean government of viable areas for land return to indigenous Rapanui. 6) The Unesco Rapa Nui heritage Landscape formerly administered by CONAF (Chilean National Parks) was handed over to the indigenous people's community, Ma'u Henua, in November 2017. In February 2018 The UCL, Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project (LOC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Ma'u Henua in recognition of LOC's work on the Island. The agreement establishes a framework in which co-operation may develop for collaboration and knowledge exchange in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage conservation, and heritage management of the Rapa Nui National Park. This agreement encompasses Archaeology Rescue and Protection Plans; Strategic Proposals for Rapa Nui Conservation Priorities, Capacity Building: training Rapa Nui Park employees and Rapa Nui graduate archaeology students; Enhancement of Park for visitors/tourists and assistance in setting up a co-ordinated Heritage Data Platform for Rapa Nui. In January/February 2019 we were in discussion with Ma'u Henua concerning the best documentation procedures for the archaeology of the Poike Peninsula, parts of which are undergoing severe erosion. 7) Our ongoing work on surveying and recording the island's prehistoric ceremonial platforms (ahu) has generated a more nuanced understanding of the impactsof sea level change and wave direction on coastal ahu and has informed the selection of ahu for 3-D documentation/recordingand and interventive conservation measures. 8) Analysis of our data on Taheta (rock carved basin) has contributed to plotting the distribution, typology and landscape contexts of a little understood artefact category and its need for conservation and protection in areas of new land uptake. |
| Sector | Education,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Policy & public services |
| Description | Advisor to the Chilean Government on the New Climate Plan for Rapa Nui (since January/February 2020): with a particular focus on the impact of climate and climate chage on the archaeology of Rapa Nui. |
| Geographic Reach | Australia |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | MoU with Rapa Nui Indigenous community (Ma'u Henua) to advise on the management of, and training in, the Rapa Nui Park (Unesco Heritage Landscape) |
| Geographic Reach | Australia |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Capacity Building: over a 4-week period in January/February 2019 in Rapa Nui, discussions about the best practice documentation and recording of the archaeology of the Rapa Nui National Park and related fieldwork with Rapa Nui archaeologists - in 2019 with a focus on the highly eroded Poike Peninsula. |
| Description | Rust Family Foundation: Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction: Taheta Survey |
| Amount | $6,220 (USD) |
| Organisation | Alfred Rust Family Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 12/2020 |
| Title | Archaeological features identified along the route of the southern Ara Moai between Ahu Hanga Tetenga and Ahu Hoa Anga Vaka A Tua Poi, Rapa Nui, 2014 |
| Description | Descriptive and photographic database of archaeological features located along the route of and in the vicinity of the southern Ara Moai. The data consist of a unique (Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction) feature no, the feature's grid reference, the type of feature, the numbers of any nearby features and any demonstrable relationship between them, a description of the feature and the materials comprising it, a description of the feature's condition, the current landuse at the feature's location and an assessment of the feature's archaeological importance. The database has been prepared in English and Spanish |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Helped decision making on the siting of a new tourist trail along the the Ara |
| Title | Archaeological features identified along the route of the southern Ara Moai between Rano Raraku and Ahu Hanga Tetenga, Rapa Nui, 2013 |
| Description | Descriptive and photographic database of archaeological features located along the route of and in the vicinity of the southern Ara Moai. The data consist of a unique (Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction) feature no, the feature's grid reference, the type of feature, the numbers of any nearby features and any demonstrable relationship between them, a description of the feature and the materials comprising it, a description of the feature's condition, the current land use at the feature's location and an assessment of the feature's archaeological importance. The database has been prepared in English and Spanish |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Provoked an invitation by the National Parks Authority (CONAF) Rapa Nui to continue the survey in 2014 Helped decision making on the siting of a new tourist trail |
| Title | Colin Richards. Excavations at Puna Pau, 2009. Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project Interim Reports 3, Digital Appendix 1: field drawings. LOC Raw Data 1 |
| Description | Report on the excavations at Puna Pau |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The excavations and field investigations by LOC at the Puna Pau scoria quarry isolated periods of active quarrying on the island for red scoria pukao (statue hats), and the characteristics of the quarrying methods and associated tools. There have been no previous excavations at this site. Microwear analysis has recently been undertaken on the obsidian artefacts and also oxygen hyration dating. |
| URL | https://archive.org/details/LOC3PunaPau2009englishDA1 |
| Title | Edwards, Hamilton and Seager Thomas UCL Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction 2015 Ara Moai Walkover Survey Sheets Suvey: the Northern Ara Moai |
| Description | Moana Gorman Edwards, Sue Hamilton & Mike Seager Thomas. UCL Institute of Archaeology Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project 2015 Ara Moai (Moai Roads) Survey. Walkover Survey Sheets: the Northern Ara Moai (AMN) between Rano Raraku and Ahu O'Pepe. LOC Raw Data 4. Contextual and Conservation analysis of the Ara Moai and its environs |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Information that allowed the Ara Moai to be interpreted in terms of its context, isolated key features to be incorporated in tourist trails, and set conservation priorities. |
| URL | https://archive.org/details/LOC_AraMoaiSurvey_2015_AMN |
| Title | Elizabeth Baquedano, Sue Hamilton, Francisca Pakomio, Mike Seager Thomas & Ruth Whitehouse. UCL Institute of Archaeology Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project 2013 Ara Moai (Moai Roads) Survey. Walkover Survey Sheets: the Southern Ara Moai (AMS) bet |
| Description | The raw data from a surface analysis by LOC of the archaological features of the Southern Ara Moai |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Contributes to a better understanding of the context of the Raoa Nui Southern Ara Moai (statue road).The state of conservation of the recumbent staues along the road are assessed. |
| URL | https://archive.org/details/LOC_AraMoaiSurvey_2013_AMSMoai |
| Title | Felipe Armstrong & Sue Hamilton. UCL Institute of Archaeology Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project 2016 Poike Survey. Walkover Survey Sheets: Survey Areas P3 & P4. LOC Raw Data 5. |
| Description | Felipe Armstrong & Sue Hamilton. UCL Institute of Archaeology Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project 2016 Poike Survey. Walkover Survey Sheets: Survey Areas P3 & P4. LOC Raw Data 5. https://archive.org/details/LOC_PoikeSurvey_2016_P3-P4 Detailed documentation of the surface archaeological features of Poike in selected areas of archaeology and past and active erosion. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The data allow for a contemporary assessment of the states of archaeological features on the Poike peninsula. They identify areas of past and on-going erosion which in turn impact on decision-making relating to the National Park's anti-erosion measures. They also isolate the secure (in situ) versus destroyed or altered distibution of surface archaeology, which in turns significantly impacts on the interpretation of past and ancient activities on Poike. |
| URL | https://archive.org/details/LOC_PoikeSurvey_2016_P3-P4 |
| Title | Felipe Armstrong, Sue Hamilton & Mike Seager Thomas. UCL Institute of Archaeology Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project 2016 Poike Survey. Walkover Survey Sheets: Survey Area P1. LOC Raw Data 6. https://archive.org/details/PoikeSurvey_2016_P1 |
| Description | Felipe Armstrong, Sue Hamilton & Mike Seager Thomas. UCL Institute of Archaeology Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project 2016 Poike Survey. Walkover Survey Sheets: Survey Area P1. LOC Raw Data 6. https://archive.org/details/PoikeSurvey_2016_P1 Walkover survey sheets relating to the surface archaeology and assessment of their state of conservation in selected areas of the Poike peninsula. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The data allow for a contemporary assessment of the states of archaeological features on the Poike peninsula. They identify areas of past and on-going erosion which in turn impact on decision-making relating to the National Park's anti-erosion measures. They also isolate the secure (in situ) versus destroyed or altered distibution of surface archaeology, which in turns significantly impacts on the interpretation of past and ancient activities on Poike. |
| URL | https://archive.org/details/PoikeSurvey_2016_P1 |
| Title | Felipe Armstrong, Sue Hamilton & Mike Seager Thomas. UCL Institute of Archaeology Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project 2016 Poike Survey. Walkover Survey Sheets: Survey Area P2. LOC Raw Data 7. |
| Description | Felipe Armstrong, Sue Hamilton & Mike Seager Thomas. UCL Institute of Archaeology Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project 2016 Poike Survey. Walkover Survey Sheets: Survey Area P2. LOC Raw Data 7. Survey sheets from walkover survey of the surface archaeology, its features, state of preservation and evidence of active erosion on slected areas of the Poike peninsula. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The data allow for a contemporary assessment of the remaining archaeology in selected areas of the Poike peninsula. Areas where the archaeology is no longer in situ can be isolated, and likewise archaeology which is under threat of obliteration identified. This informs the conservation plans of the National Park and informs the conservation prioities for Poike's archaeology. |
| URL | https://archive.org/details/LOC_PoikeSurvey_2016_P2 |
| Title | José Fati & Sorobabel Fati 1919 The Sorobabel Fati book of Rapa Nui names LOC Original Manuscripts 1 |
| Description | A list or Rapa Nui names for ceremonial platforms (ahu), topographic places and family neames dating to 1919 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | A renewed interest in the Rapa Nui names for topographic places on the island. A group of Rapa Nui islanders are now engaged in documenting further traditional names for Rapa Nui topographic places. |
| URL | https://archive.org/details/locmanuscriptssorobabelfatisbook2019/mode/2up |
| Title | LOC Survey on Poike 2016. List and description of all recorded features |
| Description | List of sites in designated areas of the Poike peninsula, Rapa Nui - and an assessment of their states of preservation |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data provide to the Chilean National Park Authority (CONAF) (designated UNESCO Heritage Landscape) and published on ResearchGate The following year we were asked to sample key archaeological features (for environmental data) that we identified as under threat |
| Title | Moai conservation along the southwestern Ara Moai 2013-4 |
| Description | Recording and analysis of weathering on recumbent moai situated along the southern Ara Moai (Moai Road) between Rano Raraku and Ahu Hoa Anga Vaka A Tua Poi, Rapa Nui. The variables noted include: stone gullying, stone disaggregation/matrix removal, the chemical re-precipitation of silica, graffiti, animal rubbing and so on. Possible threats to the moai and ways to mitigate these are also listed. The database has been prepared in English and Spanish. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Provides a control against which to measure moai conservation/ weathering surveys conducted by the National Parks Authority (CONAF) Rapa Nui on standing moai at Rano Raraku. Provoked invitation to continue the survey into 2014 and prompted further efforts to protect some of the more vulnerable moai |
| Title | Sue Hamilton, Mike Seager Thomas & Ruth Whitehouse. UCL Institute of Archaeology Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project 2014 Ara Moai (Moai Roads) Survey. Walkover Survey Sheets: the Southern Ara Moai (AMS) between Ahu Hanga Tetenga and Ahu Hoa Anga |
| Description | Walkover Survey Sheets from the LOC survey of the Southern Ara Moai (AMS) between Ahu Hanga Tetenga and Ahu Hoa Anga Vaka a Tua Poi. LOC Raw Data 3. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The archaeological context of the southern Ara Moai is documented and the state of conservation of the recumbent statues along the road.This has permitted the establishment of tourist trails and the better protection of the most vulnerable monuments |
| URL | https://archive.org/details/LOC_AraMoaiSurvey_2014_AMS |
| Title | The LOC taheta survey. Interpreting an understudied, everyday Rapa Nui feature category |
| Description | Taheta are hollows of a variety of shapes and sizes, which were carved into the living rock, earthfast and loose boulders and-occasionally-artefactual stones (including moai and moai pukao, or topknots). They are considered to be unique to Rapa Nui. A number of uses have been ascribed to them, but with no general agreement. This survey generated a feature-specific record of 170-odd taheta upon which an interpretation of taheta can be based and which provides a system of recording of use to local archaeological curators in designing a conservation strategy for them and which would facilitate their continued and future study. In so doing we have ruled out a range of pre-existing intuitive interpretations for the majority of taheta, while suggesting instead-and providing evidence for-a non-functional role for them, which involved the retention of water. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The survey generated a feature-specific record of 170-odd taheta upon which an interpretation of taheta can be based and which provides a system of recording of use to local archaeological curators in designing a conservation strategy for them and which would facilitate their continued and future study. In so doing we have ruled out a range of pre-existing intuitive interpretations for the majority of taheta, while suggesting instead-and providing evidence for-a non-functional role for them, which involved the retention of water. |
| URL | http://rgdoi.net/10.13140/RG.2.2.26667.16165 |
| Description | 2015 Survey of the Archaeological and Erosional Environment of of the Poike Peninsula, Rapa Nui |
| Organisation | National Forest Corporation |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | LOC provided a detailed recording and assessment of the impact of severe erosion on the Poike Peninsula on the distinct archaeology of this area. They will provide advice on the future priorities and possible methods of conservation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners allowed access to the study areas, provided Park Rangers to accompany us and provided access to databases relating to the sites and monuments of the study areas. In doing so this also enhanced our research databases and examples of key burial/ceremonial monuments that our research focuses on. |
| Impact | Advisory documents. Interim already written. The collaboration is multidisciplinary involving archaeologists and quaternary scientists (expertise in pollen and geomorphology) LOC team = Hamilton, Seager Thomas and Robert Scaife. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | 2015 Survey of the Archaeological and Erosional Environment of of the Poike Peninsula, Rapa Nui |
| Organisation | National Monuments Council (CMN) |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | LOC provided a detailed recording and assessment of the impact of severe erosion on the Poike Peninsula on the distinct archaeology of this area. They will provide advice on the future priorities and possible methods of conservation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners allowed access to the study areas, provided Park Rangers to accompany us and provided access to databases relating to the sites and monuments of the study areas. In doing so this also enhanced our research databases and examples of key burial/ceremonial monuments that our research focuses on. |
| Impact | Advisory documents. Interim already written. The collaboration is multidisciplinary involving archaeologists and quaternary scientists (expertise in pollen and geomorphology) LOC team = Hamilton, Seager Thomas and Robert Scaife. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Contributing to Heritage Plan for The Rapa Nui World Heritage Landscape (Plan del Patrimonio Rapa Nui). |
| Organisation | Rapa Nui National Park |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The Chilean government has recently begin returning land to native Rapanui residents. In part this is being implemented though the Secretaría Técnica de Patrimonio. Our surveys of the densities of prehistoric sites in the landscape will assist in land management decisions and the selection of land of low archaeological sensitivity for distribution. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Gaining information on the issues of heritage planning in UNESCO World Heritage Landscapes. Our project Institutions are variously working in UNESCO sites and landscapes. |
| Impact | This is still in an early stage. We have been working with Rapa Nui school children to increase heritage awareness. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Excavations in interior of Puna Pau, statue hat quarry |
| Organisation | National Forest Corporation |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Enhanced knowledge of major tourist site by conducting first ever excavations at the site Provision of text for new tourist information boards and tourist pamphlets Training for CONAF rangers and tourist guides on the archaeology of Puna Pau Advice on locating tourist trails to avoid damaging the underground and surface archeology |
| Collaborator Contribution | Vegetation clearance prior to survey and excavation. Fencing off of archaeological trenches |
| Impact | Two Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project (LOC) technical reports (LOC6 and LOC8) on the preliminary results of excavations at Puna Pau - deposited (in both English and Spanish) with CONAF. Public lectures |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | Francisco Torres H, Director MAPSE and co-director Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project |
| Organisation | El Museo Antropológico Padre Sebastián Englert, el MAPSE |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Analysis and assessment of stone tools and small stone statues in MAPSE. Invitation (accepted) to Francisco Torres H to familiarise himself with Rapa Nui stone tools in the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford and the British Museum. Joint plan for further research on museum collections of Rapa Nui stone tools. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to and information on material stored in MAPSE. Advice on project proposals. Negotiation of export permits for material requiring scientific analysis. |
| Impact | Public lectures at the MAPSE (2012, 2013 and 2014) Exhibition at the Tongariki art centre (2014) Article in Archaeology International 2014 |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | My Place, Our Heritage Education Programme: Rapa Nui-Orkney |
| Organisation | El Museo Antropológico Padre Sebastián Englert, el MAPSE |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | My Place Our Heritage Education Programme: Rapa Nui-Orkney (LOC: Jane Downes, Alison Keir, Colin Richards & Kate Welham) The 'My Place Our Heritage' education programme was established in January 2014 by Francisco Torres Hochstetter (Museo Antropológico P.Sebastián Englert (MAPSE) and Paulina Jerez Torres (Secretaría Técnica de Patrimonio Rapa Nui (STP), with LOC: Jane Downes, Alison Keir (University of the Highlands and Islands), Kate Welham (University of Bournemouth) and Colin Richards (University of Manchester). The collaborative initiative was born out of archaeological outreach activities in Rapa Nui undertaken as part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded Landscapes of Construction Project (LOC) in January 2014. Shared issues and connectivity were identified between the Rapa Nui and the Orkney islands' communities needs in terms of education, training and capacity building, seen as necessary to underpin sustainable heritage management. The ensuing heritage education programme was initiated through a mutual desire to establish continuity and sustainability in heritage education for school children in Rapa Nui, and in Orkney.The future aims of the joint initiative are to establish virtual contact between school pupils and an exchange of findings and experiences, to lead to exchange visits. The concept of linking two island communities through schools' heritage education was felt to have wider benefits of cultural exchanged there was a shared desire to have the role of archaeology and cultural heritage education better articulated with Learning for Sustainability (or Education for Sustainability). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Museo Antropológico P.Sebastián Englert (MAPSE) and the Secretaría Técnica de Patrimonio Rapa Nui (STP)run a Rapa Nui children's heritage programme - the Manu Iri Programme in Rapa Nui. This has proved very popular with Rapa Nui children as a result of which numbers have risen to thirty - this provides the framework of teachers, children and activities into which the LOC "My Place, Our Heritage" programme fits. The Manu Iri programme keeps active discussion and exercises with respect to the link with Orkney and its children, through the year when LOC members are mainly physically absent from the Island. |
| Impact | Statement of Intent and Summary of Activities: www.academia.edu/.../My_Place_Our_Heritage_education_programme_... Conference paper (9th International Conference on Easter Island and the Pacific, June 2015) : Downes, Jane / Torres Hochstetter, Francisco / Torres Jeria, Paulina / Welham, Kate 2015. Care for the future? Exploring relationships between education, knowledge exchange, and heritage management in Rapa Nui |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | My Place, Our Heritage Education Programme: Rapa Nui-Orkney |
| Organisation | National Monuments Council (CMN) |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | My Place Our Heritage Education Programme: Rapa Nui-Orkney (LOC: Jane Downes, Alison Keir, Colin Richards & Kate Welham) The 'My Place Our Heritage' education programme was established in January 2014 by Francisco Torres Hochstetter (Museo Antropológico P.Sebastián Englert (MAPSE) and Paulina Jerez Torres (Secretaría Técnica de Patrimonio Rapa Nui (STP), with LOC: Jane Downes, Alison Keir (University of the Highlands and Islands), Kate Welham (University of Bournemouth) and Colin Richards (University of Manchester). The collaborative initiative was born out of archaeological outreach activities in Rapa Nui undertaken as part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded Landscapes of Construction Project (LOC) in January 2014. Shared issues and connectivity were identified between the Rapa Nui and the Orkney islands' communities needs in terms of education, training and capacity building, seen as necessary to underpin sustainable heritage management. The ensuing heritage education programme was initiated through a mutual desire to establish continuity and sustainability in heritage education for school children in Rapa Nui, and in Orkney.The future aims of the joint initiative are to establish virtual contact between school pupils and an exchange of findings and experiences, to lead to exchange visits. The concept of linking two island communities through schools' heritage education was felt to have wider benefits of cultural exchanged there was a shared desire to have the role of archaeology and cultural heritage education better articulated with Learning for Sustainability (or Education for Sustainability). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Museo Antropológico P.Sebastián Englert (MAPSE) and the Secretaría Técnica de Patrimonio Rapa Nui (STP)run a Rapa Nui children's heritage programme - the Manu Iri Programme in Rapa Nui. This has proved very popular with Rapa Nui children as a result of which numbers have risen to thirty - this provides the framework of teachers, children and activities into which the LOC "My Place, Our Heritage" programme fits. The Manu Iri programme keeps active discussion and exercises with respect to the link with Orkney and its children, through the year when LOC members are mainly physically absent from the Island. |
| Impact | Statement of Intent and Summary of Activities: www.academia.edu/.../My_Place_Our_Heritage_education_programme_... Conference paper (9th International Conference on Easter Island and the Pacific, June 2015) : Downes, Jane / Torres Hochstetter, Francisco / Torres Jeria, Paulina / Welham, Kate 2015. Care for the future? Exploring relationships between education, knowledge exchange, and heritage management in Rapa Nui |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Surveys of southern Ara Moai ('statue road') and of eye petroglyphs at Rano Raraku |
| Organisation | National Forest Corporation |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Ara Moai: the Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project identified and surveyed archaeological features and surveyed the state of preservation of moai along the Ara Moai prior to the establishment of a tourist trail. At Rano Raraku moai quarry, the project conducted conservation assessment and mapping of eye petrogylphs. A comparison was also made of the weathering of upstanding moai there and on the Ara Moai. On both, CONAF rangers were trained in survey techniques and conservation assessment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of CONAF rangers to clear vegetation and guide us to difficult to access locations |
| Impact | Incorporation of results and monitoring pro forma in three Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project (LOC) technical reports (LOC7 10 in 2013 and LOC9 and LOC10 in 2014), deposited (in English and Spanish) with CONAF |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | University of Peking, Beijing. Chair of a Day Session on the National Geographic 'Dialogues of Civilisation Conference. Gave a paper on Easter Island and Monumentality (Hamilton S) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invitation to present new perspectives on Rapa ui to an international audience at prestigious conference supported by the National Geographic Society and Peking University |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Paper delivered to the Easter Island and Pacific Conference, Berlin: Care for the future? Exploring relationships between education, knowledge exchange, and heritage management in Rapa Nui (Downes J, Torres Hochstetter F, Torres Jeria, P, Welham, K |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited paper to present the LOC project's contribution and expertise regarding heritage management on Rapa Nui |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Paper presented at the Easter Island and Pacific Conference, Berlin: Making the invisible visible: recent applications of archaeological prospection and 3D recording methods on Rapa Nui. (Welham, K, Tucki Castro, A, Saunders, M, Shaw, L, Stanford, A, Steele, C |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The results of the LOC's geophysical analyses and 3-D recording methods were presented. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | 'My Place Our Heritage'. International, schools heritage programme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The schools days generated much excitement for the children and questions for their teachers. Paulina Jeria, archaeologist at the Secretaria Tecnica de Patrimonio Rapa Nui, has a weekly heritage show on the local radio station. Paulina interviewed members of the team, asking them questions about the project. The interview lasted 30 minutes. Team members met with people from MAPSE and the Secretaria Tecnica de Patrimonio Rapa Nui to discuss and plan a joint heritage education program to be delivered in Rapa Nui and Orkney. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Archaeology field training for Rapa Nui school children (May 2015) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Two LOC team members (Jane Downes and Kate Welham) organised two teaching days on Rapa Nui for Rapa Nui school children (10-14 year olds): 1. Took school children (10-14 years) out into the field for the afternoon and recorded archaeological features using archaeological recording sheets 2. Ran an afternoon session in Hanga Roa (Rapa Nui) for the same school children as part of the Rapa Nui/Orkney 'My Place Our Heritage' educational programme which aim is to share information about each other's island culture, and heritage. tThe Rapa Nui saw a DVD about Orkney and were filmed asking the Orkney children questions about their heritage and life style. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/katewelham |
| Description | Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society, Invited lecture: More than Moving Statues: the Stone Worlds of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) (Hamilton S) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture to a local archaeological society |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Could Modern Civilization Collapse? A multidisciplinary approach from Archaeology, Climatology and History on Climate Change and the possible Collapse of Civilisation. Invited Lecture on 'Rapa Nui (Easter Island) making monuments, eco-changes and resilience (circa AD 1200-1600) (Hamilton S) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invitation to present a Rapa Nui perspective to an international audience/conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Discussion with National Parks Authority (CONAF) Rapa Nui management of the results of deep ground penetrating radar and geophysical survey and its implications for heritage conservation at Puna Pau and Rano Raraku. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussion of suitable routes for heritage trails at Puna Pau and Rano Raraku. Heritage trail re-located to minimize destruction to identified sub-surface archaeology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Ealing Town Hall. U3A. Invited lecture. 'The Stone Worlds of Easter Island. (Hamilton S) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An invited lecture in the annual lecture series for the University of the Third Age |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Easter Island and the Pacific (Easter Island Foundation) Conference, Santa Rosa, CA. Invited co-ordinators (Hamilton S and Richards R) of a Day Session on 'Interpretative Archaeologies in the Pacific |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The LOC team were invited to organise a day session of papers at Easter Island and Pacific Conference on Interpretative Archaeologies of the Pacific. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Easter Island and the Pacific Conference, Berlin Ethnography Museum. Invited co-ordinator of a Day Session on 'Easter Island Landscapes'. Plus two papers -The Eyes of Rano Raraku, Rapa Nui'' and 'Recent work on the Ara Moai, Rapa Nui' (Hamilton S) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invitation to Chair a day session and contribute two papers to the major Easter Island and Pacific Conference (takes places every 2-3 years) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Exhibition: Richards, C. & B. Sitch, 2015. Making monuments: the statues of Rapa Nui. Manchester: Manchester Museum. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An major free exhibition at Manchester Museum open to researchers, school children, university students, and the general public |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Field activities with Rapa Nui school children |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | In conjunction with our Project Partner, University of Highlands and Islands, and Francisco Torres the Director of the Rapa Nui Museo Antropológico Padre Sebastián Englert (Chilean Ministry of Culture) and Paulina Torres Jeria, Education Officer for Secretaría Técnica de Patrimonio Rapa Nui (Consejo de Monumentos de Nacionales), LOC is developing a programme of heritage education. As part of this we are working with Rapa Nui children to train them to identify and map the numerous cultural remains that are spread across this landscape (http://www.orkney.gov.uk/OIC-News/Sharing- Orkney-experience-is-key-to-future-of-Easter-Island-heritage.htm). School children very interested in our work and our collaborators keen to develop this work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014 |
| Description | Field open days: excavation and survey work at Puna Pau |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | International tourists, tour guides, and members of the local community including school parties visited our site open days. The open days generated many questions and on-site discussions. People were able to handle finds and gain a greater awareness of the tools used in the statue hat quarries. Following the open days and the rapports developed, further work was done with school children and their teachers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014 |
| Description | Invited Lecture, NW University, Xian, China: 'Monumentality and Heritage: the case of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) (Sue Hamilton) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited keynote lecture at the opening of the UCL/NW University, Xian International Research Centre for Silk Roads Archaeology and Research. There was a large audience of students, directors of international heritage bodies associated with sillk roads heritage (which crosses 27 countries and is a UNESCO multiple-country heritage site). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited Lecture: Iconic Heritage and Resilience: Past and Now on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Cambridge |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | An invited presentation to the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Cambridge on their 2019/20 research theme of Risk and Renewal in the Pacific. Much debate and questions were sparked on this wider theme and comparative multi-disciplinary contexts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Invited Lecture: Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project. Pitt Rivers Museum, (Hamilton S) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture to generate discussion around the Pitt Rivers Museum Pacific Collections |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Invited lecture, London Society of Antiquaries "Rapa Nui (Easter Isand) Archaeology and Heritage:Changing Narratives and Current Issues. (Sue Hamilton) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The presentation was on-line and sparked many questions at the end of the lecture and several contacts subsequently. The lecture has been posted on-line. The audience was international. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Invited paper for the inauguration of the UCL Metabolism and Society Domain: Food and Society: lessons from the past for the present and the case of Rapa Nui (Hamilton S) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The inauguration of new UCL domain (led by Brosky F, and Hamilton S). Hamilton's paper on Polynesian diet change and shifts from traditional foods and the associated modern development of diabetes within Pacific populations used Polynesian and Rapa Nui examples. The inaugural conference was widely attended by medical scientist as well as academics from the humanities |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Invited prestigous lecture. General Pitt Rivers Annual Lecture, Bournemouth University. "Rapa Nui (Easter Island): Myths and Realities of an Iconic Past" (Sue Hamilton). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | c. 200 people attended (on line) Sue Hamilton's General Pitt Rivers Annual Lecture, Bournemouth University. "Rapa Nui (Easter Island): Myths and Realities of an Iconic Past". It spark lively online chat and questions from an international audience of students, researchers and the general public and is posted on line for yet wider dissemination. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Keynote speaker "Extreme Events" Symposium, 27th Nov 2015 Dublin, Royal Geological Survey Institute (Hamilton S) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited keynote lecture for a major international learned institution |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Production of texts for new information boards and educational pamphlet for National Parks Authority (CONAF) Rapa Nui on Puna Pau, the statue hat quarry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Boards in English, Rapanui, and Spanish manufactured and used used daily by Rapanui guides and the general public at Puna Pau. Texts in English and Spanish prepared for pamphlets (not yet published). Public knowledge of Puna Pau and our work there is enhanced. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014 |
| Description | Public Lecture: Rapa Nui - Castleton Archaeology Society (Richards CR) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An invited public lecture to a local heritage society |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Public Lecture: Rapa Nui - Stoke Archaeological Society (Richards CR) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An invited public lecture to a local heritage society |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Public exhibition at the Tongariki Cultural Centre, Rapa Nui, Chile, entitled: 'Recent work and new perspectives on Rapa Nui's Word Heritage Landscape' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Provoked discussion amongst Rapanui and tourist visitors and between these and the members of the Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction (LOC) team who were present, thus improving Rapanui awareness of, and understanding of the project. Audience reported improved awareness of and changes of opinion regarding both the island's archaeology and the role of and the work conducted by the Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project on the Island. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Public lecture at the Museo Antropológico Padre Sebastián Englert, Rapa Nui, entitled: 'Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project: recent landscape survey and the Puna Pau excavations |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk generate discussion and questions from a the local public, international tourists, museum curators, hotel owners and local tourist guides. After the talk more guides came to the excavations and incorporated our results into their own presentations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Public lecture at the Museo Antropológico Padre Sebastián Englert, Rapa Nui, entitled: 'Rapa Nui Landscapes of Construction Project: recent survey and excavations' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The talk raised questions from international tourists, the local community and from local guides and hotel owners comprising the audience. The local guides and hotel owners commented on getting new information about the statue hat quarry because we are the first researchers to have excavated it and the site is on all of the tourist itineraries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Public lecture at the Tongariki Cultural Centre, Rapa Nui, entitled: 'Recent work and new perspectives on Rapa Nui's Word Heritage Landscape: Puna Pau and Rano Raraku statue quarries' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk generated lots of questions. Local tour guides, international tourists and the local (Rapanui and Chilean) public participated in the questioning. The talk prompted an interview for Rapa Nui radio and a subsequent discussion with Rapa Nui tour guides because they wanted to incorporate some of our ideas in their site visits with tourists. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Public lecture: Rapa Nui - Altringham Archaeology Group (Richards CR) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Public lecture to a local heritage society |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Society of American Archaeologist's Annual Conference, Memphis, USA, Invited paper in the 'Holy Houses' session: 'Wrapping other Worlds: the case of the Rapa Nui Hare Paenga (boat-shaped houses) (Hamilton S, Richards CR) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited paper for an international conference with a focus on houses and their cosmology. A Rapa Nui perspective was presented |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Talk and presentation at the Secretaría Técnica de Patrimonio Rapa Nui (Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales) entitled 'Managing Rapa Nui's World Heritage landscape' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Contributed to the development of a programme of heritage education and a Heritage Plan for the Rapa Nui World Heritage Landscape. Development is ongoing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | The Archaeology of Easter Island. Public Lecture, Ealing, London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | About 80 individuals from the Ealing University of the Third Age (U3A) attended a lecture (one of their Spring Lecture Series) on the archaeology of Easter Island (given by Sue Hamilton LOC (PI). The session lasted 1.30 hours, with a break in the middle. There were lots of questions on the sustainability of remote environments where trees are so completely removed and the ingenuity of Rapa Nui communities in coping with dramatic environmental change. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://partridge.orpheusweb.co.uk/EA/printed/diary1504_1505.pdf |
| Description | Training Lecture on the threats of land erosion to monuments of the National Park for CONAF (Chilean National Parks Authority), Rapa Nui |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The workshop focused on the monuments of the Poike peninsula Rapa Nui where there is severe and active erosion of the landscape and its associated monuments. This prompted much discussion of differing mechanisms for stabilising the effects of erosion on the peninsula and the criteria of protection for the most prestigious/important monuments |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/calendar/articles/2015-16-news/20160208 |
| Description | Training Rapa Nui National Park rangers, and members of the Rapa Nui technical office for cultural monuments in assessment and environmental sampling of endangered monuments (Hamilton S; Seager Thomas, M; Scaife R |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Six categories of individual involved in the conservation of Rapa Nui heritage were trained in environmental sampling of threatened monuments on the Poike Peninsula, rapa Nui : 2 CONAF (Chilean National Park) rangers, one member of the Rapa Nui monuments technical office, the Director of Research at the Rapa Nui MAPSE Museum, a member of the Rapa Nui Council of Monuments, and a Rapanui undergraduate archaeology studet.park |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| Description | Training Rapa Nui archaeology/anthropology university students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 2012-14 LOC has established an outreach programme with Rapa Nui university-level students (all currently at Universidad Internacional SEK, Santiago, Chile). They are trained for 3-4 weeks each year on our Rapa Nui excavations (five students so far). Greater profile for our research and in particular of UCL in a major university department for archaeology in Chile (Universidad Internacional SEK). UCL now has two SEK students undertaking MPhil/PhD research in archaeology. One is focusing on Rapa Nui material |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014 |
| Description | Training on 3-D photographic recording for National Parks Authority (CONAF), Rapa Nui rangers working at Rano Raraku statue quarries |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The guides were trained in how to interpret our digital photographs and in how to record Rapa Nui's numerous prehistoric petroglyphs using 3-D photography and observational prompt sheets. This was recognized as enabling Rapanui professionals in the recording of their own heritage sites. After the training, a more formal approach was provided for monitoring and recording petroglyphs at Rano Raraku statue quarries, the success of which we will monitor in our 2015 field season. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Training presentation for National Parks Authority (CONAF) Rapa Nui guides: 'survey techniques and interpretation of results on the Ara Moai (statue roads) and of eye petroglyphs at Rara Raraku statue quarry' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk sparked discussion of the conservation priorities for the statues along the Ara Moai and for the eye petroglyphs at Rano Raraku and how best to conserve them for, and present them to, the general public Following the talk, further survey work on the statues and eye petroglyphs was supported by CONAF. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Training presentation for National Parks Authority (CONAF) Rapa Nui guides: 'the results of the Puna Pau excavations' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | CONAF guides asked many questions and were better informed to guide visitors through the Puna Pau, statue hat quarry site. CONAF management gained more information on how to present the site to tourists. After the talks CONAF requested that we worked with them on creating new information boards for Puna Pau. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2014 |
| Description | University College, Dublin Invited Lecture: Say it with Stone: Rapa Nui (Easter Island's) Stone Monumentality (Hamilton S) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture in an annual, university lecture series |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | University of Edinburgh Research Seminar Series. Invited Lecture: Materialising Island Worlds (Hamilton S) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture for University of Edinburgh Archaeological Society Annual Lecture Series |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Xian, China, NW University: Invited Lecture of 'Easter Island Monumentality and social complexity' (Hamilton S) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An invited lecture to a major archaeology department in China to present the LOC's findings |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |