Research Symposium

BIO

Hi! I'm Kaia Clemente and I'm a first year International Affairs major at FSU. I was born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida and it's my favorite place in the world. I'm interested in history, culture, and architectural preservation of historic places. During my free time, I enjoy going to the beach, mountain biking, sailing, and spending time with friends and family. Next semester, I plan on studying abroad at the FSU Florence campus.

Heads Will Roll: The Toppling of the Rapa Nui Statues

Abstract

This research explores the various potential causes for the toppling of all moai heads on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) using different techniques and collaborating with indigenous population, as well as their role in modern Rapa Nui culture. This is important because there are still many gaps in the scholarship about moai and the modern Rapa Nui are sometimes completely disregarded in research. This project used modern literature on the toppling of the moai, the archeological features of the island, and the modern culture present there. Scientific journals, ethnographies, and grant proposals were used to gather information and create a museum exhibit outline, which will be presented in the future. The expected results will shed light on the cause of the topping (e.g. earthquake, iconoclasm), which will settle a centuries old debate. Future studies could further involve indigenous populations and illuminate more information about the moai. The current state of the indigenous community is also explored through the research. This research is significant because indigenous populations have been restricted from interacting with and preserving their own cultural monuments due to a legacy of colonialism.

Keywords: Polynesia, anthropology, culture