Brandi Gilbert

Research Paper
Intro to Archaeology Tues. /Thurs. 10am
Easter Island

The archaeology site that I chose to research was the Easter Islands, and what exactly was
found there and what still remains there today after all these years of it being discovered. Easter
Island has been around for several centuries and still to this day is being excavated by
archaeologists who are finding more and more evidence about the people and life that was lived
on the Island many years ago. (http://www.history.com/topics/easter-island, History Staff
Member, 2009) Easter Island is located roughly 2,300 miles from the west coast of Chile, and is
roughly the same distance away from Tahiti as well. The first explorers that were on the island
were Dutch explorers that arrived in 1722, and the island was named after the day of their
arrival. The thing that makes the island itself so inviting for people to come and see it are the 900
stone figures. There are still several figures around the island, some of them are all put together,
but most of them are falling apart due to old age and weathering and other natural causes.
Researches have also concluded that by the craftsmanship of the stone figures themselves, that
the ancient people who carved them were very skill for their time period.
(http://www.history.com/topics/easter-island, History Staff Member, 2009)
One archaeologist that has been fascinated by what she has found at Easter Island is Jo
Anne Van Tilburg. She has been a part of the Easter Island Statue Project for many years now,
and has loved being able to excavate and find new and exciting things whenever she gets to visit
the island. (Foxnew.com, May 16, 2012) She has been doing research for over 12 years now, and
from different findings has said that there was once over 1,000 statues on the island itself.
Through careful examination she also believes that she has found several burial sites of the early
inhabitants. As for the statutes themselves Tilburg said We found over 500 stone tools. The
statues were carved with different types, big heavy picks and finer basalt and obsidian tools to

Brandi Gilbert
Research Paper
Intro to Archaeology Tues. /Thurs. 10am

finish details. (Jo Anne Van Tilburg, director of the Easter Island Statue Project, Foxnews.com)
Post holes were found as well, that were big enough for a tree trunk. Tilburg stated that each
statue is individually constructed by groups. (Jo Anne Van Tilburg, director of the Easter Island
Statue Project, Foxnews.com) She hopes to return to the island very soon, to conduct more
research. (Foxnew.com, May 16, 2012)
The picture below is the digging site that Tilburg has been working on. (Picture from
Foxnews.com)

This is a map of the island. (Picture used from

Wikipedia)

Easter Island has been excavated by many

archaeologists throughout the years, and from all
of their research we have been able to learn so

Brandi Gilbert
Research Paper
Intro to Archaeology Tues. /Thurs. 10am

much more than we ever thought possible about the Island itself. But just like any other
archaeological site, there can always be something more that we can find, and from those
findings put out more found research about the island. Based on what I have learned so far in
archaeology, I would be able to map out how I might go about excavating a certain area on
Easter Island.
One of the ways that I could go about using an archaeological method to excavate would
be by using triangulation to help me determine exactly where a certain piece of pottery, bone, or
tool is located on Easter Island. To do this I would first need to find an object on the island, then
I would be able to start doing all of the measurements required for triangulation. I would start off
by getting a level, and make sure that my starting points are even and at level ground. From there
I would get one of my tape measures and start off at a level starting point that I have already
located, and pull the tape measure out to the object that I am using. I will then get a second tape
measure and do the same thing on the other side, forming a triangle. After this is done, I would
then get out a plumb bob and make sure it is right above the object I am excavating. Then I
would record all of the measurements I got, and convert them into meters, or centimeters. After
converting the numbers, I would be able to map out the triangulation on a piece of paper and
keep with me for evidence, and valuable information.
With all of the information that was gathered doing triangulation, I would be able to
complete my records of what I had discovered on the island, and use them in the future when
doing more measurements, and research about everything I was able to uncover. I would also
think that most of the items/objects that I would most likely find on the island would include:
different tools used to help the ancient people build the stone heads, all sorts of pottery that was

Brandi Gilbert
Research Paper
Intro to Archaeology Tues. /Thurs. 10am

made, multiple kinds of hunting materials and tools that were used by the people to get their food
supply, and lastly many bones that I would most likely find from those who occupied the Island
so many years ago.

Graph showing information about the

type of land that Easter Island has.

(The Picture is from https://www.utexas.edu/courses/denbow/labs/palynology.htm)

These are different remains that were found while the

stone heads were being excavated.
(Photo thanks to http://www.eisp.org/)

Brandi Gilbert
Research Paper
Intro to Archaeology Tues. /Thurs. 10am

This photo is of some students and staff

members of the UCLA Easter Island Statue
Project. They were able to dig down far enough
to unveil the rest of the statue.
(Photo thanks to
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/easter-islandstatues-revealed-234519)

Brandi Gilbert
Research Paper
Intro to Archaeology Tues. /Thurs. 10am
Bibliography

http://www.history.com/topics/easter-island
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/05/16/easter-island-archaeology-project-digs-upislands-secrets.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Island
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/zagora/archaeological-field-tools-andmethods/
http://www.eisp.org/
https://www.utexas.edu/courses/denbow/labs/palynology.htm
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/easter-island-statues-revealed-234519