Rapa Nui 2010
Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy
Polynesian society is deeply connected to astronomy through their monuments, seasonal ceremonies, and notably their nautical navigation that has traditionally made use of constellations. For nearly a century the structures on Rapa Nui were thought to have a solar alignment, but on this expedition Edmundo and his team aimed to re-examine this theory, with the hypothesis that they correspond to the constellation Pleiades.
Tupa
On Rapa Nui one of the important archaeological structures are circular stone towers called Tupa. Different theories have existed about Tupas, including the possibility that they could have been used as astronomical observatories, so one of the key goals to this expedition was to map out tupas and investigate this hypothesis. This illustration shows an archetypal Tupa on the island’s Northern coast done during the expedition of Jean-Francois Compte de La Pérouse in 1786.
Documenting and Mapping
One of several intact Tupas that was documented by team member Lynn Danaher during her survey of the island.
Alexandra Edwards, Field Assistant, Camera Operator
Edmundo Edwards, Expedition Leader, PI
Captain Lynn Danaher, Logistics, Field Assistant, Photograper
Juan Antonio Belmonte, Astronomer
José Belmonte, Field assistant
Jaime Riroroko, Field Assistant and Interpreter
Margarita Riroroko, Field and Logistics Assistant
Gonzalo Rojas, Camera Operator and Editor
Roberto Glaría, Post Production Manager
Work of the Gods: A Cosmic Journey into Rapa Nui’s Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy
Hosted by Edmundo Edwards and Archaeoastronomer Juan Antonio Belmonte. Shot, Directed and Edited by Gonzalo Rojas. Post production manager Roberto Glaría.
This expedition mourns the loss of team member Sebastián Tuki Riroroko who died tragically in a motorcycle accident during this expedition of Rapa Nui. (November 4th 1981-July 4th 2010)