Easter Island Statue Project

What Easter Island Statue Project does

The Easter Island Statue Project (EISP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit archaeological research initiative established in 1981 and directed by Dr. Jo Anne Van Tilburg and Co-Director Cristián Arévalo Pakarati, operating from Santa Monica, California with field offices on Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile) and an academic affiliation at the UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. Over four decades, EISP has conducted the only comprehensive, scientifically documented island-wide survey of Rapa Nui's monolithic stone statues (moai), cataloging 1,040+ sculptural objects and 1,300+ items including fragments, supported by 108 original maps, 917 toki (stone tool) XRF analyses, GPS mapping of Rano Raraku interior quarry zones, photogrammetry, laser scanning, and Reflectance Transformation Imaging. Its core products are the DATASHARE private archive database, the forthcoming 600-page Te Moai Rapa Nui archaeological atlas (Cotsen Institute Press, 2026), earlier monographs, and the EISP Conservation Initiative executed under permit with Chilean authorities (CMN, CONAF) and in partnership with the Archaeological Institute of America. Revenue is generated through tax-deductible individual donations, unspecified grants, and direct book sales (e.g., 'Among Stone Giants' at $20, 'Easter Island: Archaeology, Ecology, and Culture' at $80), with operations funded personally by Van Tilburg and Arévalo Pakarati; distribution is via the eisp.org website, email order, and PayPal/check. The customer base comprises academic researchers, museums with Pacific collections, the Rapa Nui community, and visitors/tourists, with field crews drawn nearly exclusively from the Rapa Nui community.

Name

Easter Island Statue Project

Legal name

Easter Island Statue Preservation Foundation

Website

https://eisp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Easter Island Statue Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that researches, documents, and conserves the moai statues of Rapa Nui, serving academic researchers, museums, the Rapa Nui community, and the public through field excavation, the DATASHARE archive, and publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Archaeological Research & Heritage Conservation

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions (THAJADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Monuments, Statues & Memorials (THAJACAB)

Keywords

• Archaeological field research
• Heritage conservation services
• Cultural site documentation
• Monolith preservation research
• Scholarly book publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Direct sales of publications including 'Among Stone Giants' ($20 signed), 'Easter Island: Archaeology, Ecology, and Culture' ($80 signed), and 'Te Moai Rapa Nui' (forthcoming). All proceeds benefit the Easter Island Statue Project.
2. Donations: EISP Foundation is a 501(c)(3) entity accepting tax-deductible donations. Donations can be made via PayPal or check payable to Easter Island Statue Preservation, sent to Santa Monica office.
3. Grants: Funding through donations and grants. EISP and DATASHARE are solely funded by Van Tilburg and Arévalo Pakarati through donations and grants.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Easter Island Statue Project (EISP) conducts archaeological research, scientific documentation, and conservation of the monolithic stone statues (moai) of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile. The project maintains the DATASHARE private archive containing detailed records of over 1,040 moai statues and conducts island-wide surveys, controlled excavations, and conservation initiatives in the Rano Raraku quarry. EISP also publishes scholarly books on Polynesian arts and culture through its Mana Press imprint, directed by Dr. Jo Anne Van Tilburg and co-directed by Rapa Nui artist Cristián Arévalo Pakarati.

Product overview

The Easter Island Statue Project (EISP) is a research organization that has conducted over four decades of archaeological fieldwork and conservation work on Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile. The organization operates primarily as a research and conservation initiative rather than a commercial product company. Its core offerings include: the DATASHARE private database for inventory and documentation of moai statues; archaeological excavation services in Rano Raraku quarry; conservation initiatives using advanced documentation technologies including laser scanning, photogrammetry, and Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI); and educational publications including books, atlases, and scholarly works. The portfolio includes published books ('Easter Island: Archaeology, Ecology, and Culture', 'Among Stone Giants'), forthcoming atlas ('Te Moai Rapa Nui'), and Mana Press publications. EISP also operates the Mana Gallery as a field office and art gallery space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DATASHARE: Private archive dedicated to the preservation of the monolithic stone statues (moai) of Rapa Nui, containing the project's research database.
• Mana Gallery
• Mana Press

Products and services

• Te Moai Rapa Nui: Easter Island's Monolithic Statues — An Illustrated Archaeological Atlas Forthcoming 600-page illustrated archaeological atlas exploring the art and science of Rapa Nui through four decades of archaeological fieldwork by Jo Anne Van Tilburg, featuring 108 original maps, contributions from 34 international colleagues, transcribed fieldnotes by Katherine Routledge, and drawings by Rapa Nui artist Cristián Arévalo Pakarati.
• The Iconic Tattooed Man of Easter Island Book authored by Adrienne L. Kaeppler and Jo Anne Van Tilburg revealing the identity of a tattooed Easter Island man who became iconic in Pacific Island histories and museum catalogs, summarizing the history of tattoo practices on Rapa Nui.
• Easter Island: Archaeology, Ecology, and Culture Book by Jo Anne Van Tilburg examining Rapa Nui prehistory in the context of new understandings of ecology and culture, based on measurement, drawing, and photography of nearly 1,000 statues over twelve years.
• Among Stone Giants: The Life of Katherine Routledge and Her Remarkable Expedition to Easter Island Biography by Jo Anne Van Tilburg chronicling Katherine Scoresby Routledge and her Mana Expedition to Easter Island (1914-1915), revealing the history of the first-ever excavations of the island's stone statues.
• EISP Conservation Initiative Archaeological conservation and preservation program for Rapa Nui moai, including controlled excavation, laser scanning, and scientific documentation of statues in Rano Raraku quarry, conducted in partnership with the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) and operating under Chilean national monument permits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,040 monolithic sculptural objects (moai) documented in comprehensive study
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Archaeological Tours (New York) & British Museum TravellerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1990Since 1990, EISP has led yearly tours to Easter Island for these tour operators, allowing team members to meet interested individuals and share experiences with the island.
• Archaeological Institute of America (AIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEISP Conservation Project Initiative partnered with AIA Site Preservation Task Force. AIA selected Easter Island as its second Site Preservation project. AIA provides conservation expertise, standards compliance, and recognition for heritage preservation efforts.
• Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublishing partner for EISP works including Te Moai Rapa Nui (forthcoming). Van Tilburg serves as Director of UCLA Rock Art Archive. Provides academic affiliation, research infrastructure, and publication platform for project findings.
• Museo Antropológico Padre Sebastián Englert (MAPSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsland's local museum (MAPSE) receives and stores all collected materials including level bags, artifacts, and human bone. Final deposition of excavation collections stored at MAPSE. A unit of DBAM.
• CONAF (Corporación Nacional Forestal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency providing permits, site access, and field support for excavations. Susana Nahoe from CONAF collaborates on conservation work. CONAF fence installed at quarry entrance to restrict tourist access.
• Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales Isla de Pascua (CMN/CAMN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational monuments council providing permits for excavation and research. All archaeologists conducting sub-surface investigations on Rapa Nui function with permits issued by CMN and reviewed by their Rapa Nui counterpart.
• Universidad de ValparaísominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch agreement with Universidad de Valparaíso contained in Memo of Understanding with Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA. José Miguel Ramírez A. serves as Co-investigator from the university.
• Rapa Nui CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEISP field crew is nearly exclusively Rapa Nui, many of whom have participated in other archaeological projects. Project provides economic and advanced educational opportunities to community members. Goal of training and supporting emerging Rapa Nui archaeologists.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CyArk: CyArk digitally preserves cultural heritage sites worldwide using 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry. Directly comparable technology stack and mission of heritage documentation for at-risk sites.
• World Monuments Fund: Global nonprofit dedicated to preserving historic sites through advocacy, funding, and conservation programs. Comparable heritage preservation mission and nonprofit funding model.
• Bishop Museum: Honolulu-based museum specializing in Hawaiian and Pacific cultures including Polynesian ethnographic and archaeological collections. Comparable focus on indigenous Pacific cultural heritage.
• Global Heritage Fund: Nonprofit focused on saving endangered heritage sites in developing regions through community partnership. Shares EISP's blend of conservation, community training, and site management.
• Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand): New Zealand's national museum with extensive Polynesian and Pacific Island collections and research programs. Comparable mission of indigenous heritage preservation and public education.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Major museum with significant Pacific and Polynesian collections including Easter Island artifacts. Provides institutional scale and research infrastructure orders of magnitude beyond EISP.
• Archaeological Institute of America: Largest U.S. organization devoted to archaeological research and heritage preservation. AIA is also EISP's formal conservation partner and operates a much broader portfolio across global archaeological sites.
• American Museum of Natural History: Large natural history museum with Pacific collections and active archaeological research programs. Holds Rapanui artifacts and conducts heritage research on adjacent subjects.
• Getty Conservation Institute: Larger private institution conducting scientific research, training, and publications on cultural heritage conservation. Operates at significantly greater scale with broader portfolio than EISP.

Others

• UNESCO World Heritage Centre: UN agency that designates Rapa Nui as a World Heritage Site. Sets international standards and coordinates heritage protection frameworks that govern EISP's operating environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EasterIslandStatueProject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Easter Island Statue Project