Rapa Nui

Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is a remote volcanic island located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. The island is famous for its archaeological wonders, especially the moai statues. These monumental statues were carved by the Rapa Nui people from the island's volcanic rock. They represent ancestors and deified chiefs, and they hold profound cultural and spiritual significance for the local community. The moai are not just silent testaments to the island's rich history and the artistic prowess of its ancient inhabitants but also a reflection of the Rapa Nui people’s complex relationship with their environment.

Since 2017, CyArk has collaborated with the managers of Rapa Nui National Park, Ma'u Henua Comunidad Indigena Polinesica, and the Chilean National Monuments Commission (Secretaría Técnica de Patrimonio Rapa Nui) for the emergency documentation of priority monuments within the park. Many sites located along the coast are being affected by erosion, especially following severe weather events and our ongoing work is being used to inform the conservation and management of the places.