| In spite of a long history of research, little is known about non-ceremonial structures on Rapa Nui yet these features dominate the island's archaeology. Obtaining systematic island-wide data on these structures through pedestrian-based methods is expensive and inefficient. High-resolution satellite imagery can be used to generate structural and distributional data at significantly lower costs and with specifiable precisions. This study focuses on the identification and distribution of one type of domestic structure known as manavai , stone constructions that surrounded household gardens. Manavai have the potential to inform us on habitation and subsistence patterns in the archaeological record that are contemporaneous with statue construction. Using satellite imagery, and remote sensing techniques, over 2,500 manavai were identified, primarily along the coast with pockets of distinct spatial clustering. This preliminary survey provides a comprehensive inventory of manavai features, though ground reconnaissance and a spectral signature library of landcover materials were required. |
