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Due to our close historical connection and seeking to learn more about our fascinating neighbour, the Rapanui Planetarium and Observatory, based on Rapa Nui (a.k.a. Easter Island), has been granted approval by the Pitcairn Council to identify, register and survey pre-historical archaeological sites that may have been of importance in Polynesian ethnoastronomy; these include marae ceremonial sites, chiefly houses, and two well-known, yet difficult-to-access ancient rock art sites. Our goal is to check these structures for possible alignments to stars that were known to be important in Polynesian calendrics, as is the case with many such sites elsewhere in Polynesia.

 

Our expedition is set for sometime in the first semester of 2023, the exact dates to be announced in mid-2022. We anticipate a stay of two weeks with six to eight participants total, plus our core team of specialists, consisting of two archaeologists, an ethnoastronomer, and an expert Pitcairn historian and rock climber. Click on the button below to learn more about ancient Pitcairn and the significance of our project, or go to our Contact page to find answers to your questions regarding expedition requirements, fees, plans, and more.