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This talk will uncover the hidden histories of this early archaeological expedition to Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Led by the Oxford-educated Katherine Routledge, the 1912-1916 Mana expedition was the first to systematically survey the famous moai statues on Rapa Nui, forming a basis for subsequent archaeological investigation.

The talk will situate Katherine and her work in the broader context of women’s involvement with Society-supported expeditions during this period, and explore her collaborations with local and Indigenous people on the island, most notably Juan Tepano, and their contributions to the archaeological results.

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