Anthropology
students discover Easter Island
By
Mari Shinkai
On-line Forty-Niner
For
years people have wondered about the massive
statues that surround Easter Island. The
mystery of who created them and how they
lived draws researchers from around the
world.
A
group of six students from Cal State Long
Beach, led by Carl Lipo, professor of anthropology,
worked with students and staff from the
University of Hawaii, U.C. Berkley and Rapa
Nui high school this summer during a field
trip to Easter Island.
The
six-week trip offered field research conducted
with not only archaeological field surveys,
but also in-depth knowledge about Easter
Island culture, history and people, said
Lipo.
The
students used three remote sensing machines,
which detect resistivity, magnetometry and
ground penetrating radar.
According
to Lipo, CSULB is one of the only schools
in the United States to have such a technology
as part of their archaeology program.
Lipo
presented Recent Archaeological Explorations
of Easter Island Wednesday with hope of
a continuous archaeological study with students
in Easter Island.
"Easter
Island is an amazing place," Lipo said.
"It's remote from problems that beset
the rest of the world. Besides, everything
was successful. We've got good research
and data."
Mapping
and survey techniques including the use
of a total station and survey-grade GPS
units were also covered which Lipo explained
to be, "the most frustrating work for
students."
Investigations
were conducted on prehistoric habitations
and other sites in three parts of the island:
Maitakitemoa (northwest coast), Akahanga
(south-central coast), and at the famous
site of Anakena (northeast coast).
"It
was mystical," said Susana Gonzalez,
a senior anthropology major and one of the
participants. "There were so many aspects
to learn: the culture, history, geographical
setting, the archaeology and the way of
life." Gonzalez said.
Easter
Island which is located 3,700 km off the
West Coast of Chile is known as the world's
most isolated inhabited island and one of
the most mystifying places on Earth, possessing
a history that remains as unclear as it
is evocative. Yet, few people actually ever
get to visit the island.
Lipo
hopes that the project will be the constant
basis for students.
"We're
trying to keep something going." Lipo
said. "Especially for archaeology,
when you get into this field and you do
research, this is how you learn to be an
archaeologist. You have to be actual places
because this is how science happens."
"If
possible, I love to go to [Easter Island]
again," Gonzalez said. "I definitely
had a great experience there."
Chiyo
Eto, a junior art major and one of the attendees
at the presentation said she learned interesting
facts about Easter.
"I've
been interested in the mystery of Easter
Island. This event made me want to learn
about archaeology and go to Easter Island,"
Eto said.
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