Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, remains one of the most enigmatic locations on Earth. Famous for its monolithic moai statues, the island has long been a focal point for theories involving ancient advanced civilizations and, more controversially, extraterrestrial visitors. In a gripping segment of Expedition Unknown, host Josh Gates joins forces with renowned UFO researcher Sixto Paz Wells to explore the “Underworld” of the island, searching for evidence that might link these stone giants to beings from beyond our world.

Descent into the Underworld

The investigation begins far from the iconic stone faces, moving instead into the island’s vast and treacherous network of lava tubes. These subterranean caverns, formed by ancient volcanic activity, have served as shelters, burial sites, and ceremonial spaces for the Rapa Nui people for centuries. For Josh Gates, however, the mission is to investigate claims of a more “alien” nature.

Guided by Sixto Paz Wells, who has spent decades studying alleged contact with extraterrestrials, the team rappels into a deep, vertical shaft hidden beneath a massive fig tree. This entrance leads to what Paz calls the “Underworld,” a place where he believes the veil between humanity and “the others” was once thin.

The Legend of the Birdmen and Star Beings

As they navigate the damp, dark tunnels, Paz explains that the island’s folklore is rich with references to “sky gods” and beings who arrived from the stars. He points to the famous “Birdman” cult of Rapa Nui, suggesting that the transformation or worship of bird-like figures may actually be a misunderstood memory of ancient astronauts who possessed the power of flight.

“The traditions say they are here,” Paz tells a skeptical but intrigued Gates. According to Paz, the moai weren’t just statues of ancestors; they were conduits or markers designed to interact with celestial visitors. He describes accounts of “projected lights” and “spaceships” moving through these very tunnels, suggesting that the caves were once high-tech corridors or hiding places for beings not of this Earth.

A Discovery in the Dark?

The tension peaks as the team reaches a remote section of the cave system, where the ground is littered with archaeological remains. Among the basalt rocks and ancient debris, they encounter what appear to be skeletal remains. In the world of “ancient aliens” theory, the discovery of elongated skulls or unusual bone structures is often cited as “smoking gun” evidence of non-human biology.

Josh examines the site with a mix of reverence and scientific scrutiny. While the visual of bones in a cave on Easter Island is haunting, the challenge remains: are these the remains of the Rapa Nui people, or something more inexplicable? For Paz, the presence of these remains in such a specific, ceremonial context within the “Underworld” reinforces his belief that the island was a hub for extraterrestrial interaction.

The Skeptic’s Lens vs. The Believer’s Faith

Throughout the journey, the contrast between Josh Gates’ investigative skepticism and Sixto Paz’s conviction creates a compelling narrative. Gates acknowledges the sheer impossibility of the moai—how a primitive society moved 80-ton stones across miles of rugged terrain—without dismissing the cultural ingenuity of the Rapa Nui. However, Paz argues that “ingenuity” had a helping hand from above.

The segment concludes with the team emerging from the tunnels into a hidden “garden” within a collapsed lava tube, a lush oasis protected from the island’s harsh winds. It is a place of peace that feels, as Josh describes, “otherworldly.”

Conclusion

Whether or not “alien bones” truly lie hidden in the depths of Rapa Nui, the investigation highlights a fundamental human truth: we are obsessed with the stars. The moai of Easter Island continue to stare out at the horizon, perhaps waiting for the return of the “sky gods,” or perhaps simply serving as a testament to human willpower. For Josh Gates and Expedition Unknown, the hunt for extraterrestrials on this remote island ends with more questions than answers, leaving the mystery of the moai as solid and silent as the stone they are carved from.