T he 39 basalt specimens represent the classical Rano Raraku picks, of which 17 are complete and 22 are broken. They are, or tend to be, pointed at both ends. Manufacture by flaking is crude and only one exhibits some pecking. Cross-section varies considerably, from subcircular or polygonal to quadrangular or subtriangular. In general, cross-section form seems functionally irrelevant.
Relative thickness ranges from heavy specimens to rather light ones.
Only 11 out of 26 specimens show visible traces of use. This may be due to the fact that picks constantly had to be resharpened by striking off chips from the working end. Stone-working adzes . This fact tends to support the abovementioned functional interpretation, since at ahu building work involved mainly the finishing of stone blocks and slabs in addition to minor carving in statues. They are crudely flaked and show no traces of pecking or grinding.