Of course everyone thinks of Easter Island as that island with all the heads. However, there’s a lot more to this mysterious Pacific island. Actually, archaeologists may have recently discovered something very odd about the already strange island. Read on to hear if they’ve cracked the code!
Heads First
There’s a name for those large stone heads…they’re called Moai. For hundreds of years, humans struggled to understand these ancient Moai. Where did they come from? Who constructed these massive stones? The whole thing baffled even archaeologists. Perhaps the most confusing factor is the strange location of this island.
Heads First
Just Coincidence?
Ever wondering what connects all these heads together? Turns out, all the Moai are monoliths. If you’re wondering, a monolith is something made from one large stone. Despite all having this in common, not every one is identical to each other. Most are truly unique. With the tallest measuring at 33 feet and weighing in at 82 tons, there’s a lot to uncover! Since 1250 C.E. these massive Moai have resided on the Chilean Polynesian island.
Just Coincidence?
Surprise Inside
The amazing team of archaeologists known as the Easter Island Statue Project have excavated many Rapa Nui statues. With their excavations, much was revealed about the mysterious Moai. Now, researchers have better insight into the Moai history and origin. Within the structure, the team discovered red pigment, which is thought to be paint that used to cover the Moai.
Surprise Inside
Stone Markings Reveal More
The EISP have uncovered some unbelievable discoveries. Beneath one specific statue, Van Tilburg’s team unearthed a special relic. It looked to be a crescent shaped carving on a stone. Researchers concluded this must be a symbol for either a vaka or canoe. Also those statues that the excavators found the stone in had carvings on their sides. Thus, the team put their heads together and concluded these engraved designs with accompanying petroglyphs alluded to the statue’s creators.
Stone Markings Reveal More
Mysterious Transportation Of 14 Tons
Naturally everyone is wondering about the face lift. No, not that kind of face lift! How on Earth did people move the Moai across the island? Numerous theories have surfaced about the possible methods. Some say ropes, human labor and even other kinds of equipment were necessary. While some theories say people utilized logs in order to gently roll these huge statues to their resting places. Overall, that means between 50 and 100 people were needed in order to transport the stones.
Mysterious Transportation Of 14 Tons
Testing The Theory
Again, when we speak of face lift, this is not your Hollywood face lift story. No, a Czech engineer named Pavel Pavel wanted to test a theory about how humans were able to lift these structures. With the help of Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl, Pavel reconstructed a model statue. Then the two used one rope around its head while tying another to the statue’s base. Together with 16 others, they moved their model very slowly along. Unfortunately, they were damaging the model, so the experiment ended earlier than planed. Their calculations predicted with each day, they could move it another 330 ft.
Testing The Theory
Final Destruction
While the statues are intriguing themselves, another mystery lies with where the people who created them went and why. As expected, many theories have been invented to explain their strange disappearance. Generally, anthropologists all agree on one thing. Sometime within the 18th century, the people rioted and rebelled against the leaders of the island. Perhaps, as supplies slowly declined and tensions escalated between the various communities, battles broke out. In the aftermath, statues were destroyed and left on the ground. Of course, the fallen ones have since been re-erected.
Final Destruction
Other Theories
This mystery is pretty hard to comprehend. Thus, some people have speculated that aliens created the Moari. Far-fetched for sure, but Erich von Daniken wrote about this theory in his book called Chariots of the Gods?: Unsolved Mysteries of the Past. Unsurprisingly, von Daniken also credits aliens with creating the pyramids in Egypt and the Nazca line drawings. Despite this, it’s been proven that the statue stones originated from the physical island and no where else.
Other Theories
Ancient Roadways
Rapa Nui’s ancient roads have stirred some debate. Thor Heyerdahl believes these roadways served as the main way of transportation. Archaeologists uncovered the ancient roads in addition to the toppled statues by the sides of them. However, Katherine Routledge, a British archaeologist, adamantly, opposes this theory and instead says the roads were for ritualistic purposes. Despite this contradictory view, the evidence supports Routledge’s proposed theory. The roads converge on the Rano Raraku volcano, which may mean the volcano was a place of worship for the people.
Ancient Roadways
Global Connections
One other mysterious aspect of Easter Island has been its writing system. Actually, Robert M. Schoch argues that the found calligraphy tablets probably dated even 10,000 years older than what was originally thought. Thus, making the island even older than suspected. While Schoch was deep in ancient Turkish ruins at Gobekli Tepe, he had this epiphany. The idea came from the feeling that the ruins were out of place based on their location. He found many points of comparison between those Gobekli Tepe pillars and the Easter Island Moai.
Global Connections
Play It By Ear
It’s not all stones and carvings that have everyone fascinated. The bones of old inhabitants also have sparked interest. The shape of these skulls have a long, narrow shape. Thus, indicating that the Rapa Nui people perhaps had longer-shaped ears than the standard size for humans. Actually, there’s even records of short-eared and long-eared tribes fighting battles against each other. Apparently, the long-eared tribe were ancient Peruvians while short-eared tribesmen came from Polynesian ancestry.
Play It By Ear
Cannibal Cave Tradition
Inside of what’s known as the ‘Cannibal Cave,’ they discovered illustrations of the Tangata manu, which means ‘Birdman’ in English. According to experts, this person was the winner of the island’s annual competition of the first egg collection. What’s that you ask? Well, the contestants swam to a nearby island, collected the first egg of the season and whoever returned first to Rapa Nui became that year’s Birdman and thus, the community leader for the year.
Cannibal Cave Tradition
Tribute To Ancient Singer
Out of all the Moai, the Tukuturi stands out for sure. Many speculate this is a tribute to an ancient singer. The figure can be found kneeling, which resembles the festival rui’s celebratory stance. This bearded figure is a lot smaller than the other statues, and it was even made from different material than the others. Experts discovered Tukuturi was constructed from red Puna Pua stone.
Tribute To Ancient Singer
Volcanic Tools
Surprisingly, the Rapa Nui people’s tools were also just as fascinating as the statues. Well, the tools, called Mata, were made into several shapes and sizes from volcanic glass. Of course, the tools needed to be very sharp so they could carve into wood, cut fibers and even become weapons when needed. Throughout the world’s museum exhibitions, you can find these Rapa Nui tools.
Volcanic Tools
An Ear For An Ear
Obviously, we’re joking! Though, this thief did get off easy for his crime. Yes, a Finnish tourist actually hacked off a statue’s ear when he toured Anakena beach. Luckily, someone witnessed the assailant, Marko Kulju, take off with the ear and reported him to the police. Upon his arrest, they fined him $17,000! However, this fine seemed a light slap on the wrist, considering he could have been in jail for seven years. Afterwards, the security at the national park tightened up.
An Ear For An Ear
New Home In The UK
Perhaps, the most iconic our of the statues, Hoa Hakananai’a no longer rests on the island. Actually, this statue can be found in the British Museum. As of November 1868, the British ship HMS Topaze collected the statue from ‘Orongo on Easter Island. Finally, in August 1969, the statue arrived in England. Although, it’s smaller than the typical Moai, many look to this famous statue as not just a masterpiece, but the archetype for Moai design.
New Home In The UK
Ancient Cure
Up for another strange Moai theory? Dr. Anneliese Pontius, a psychiatry professor at Harvard Medical School, proposed that islanders constructed the impressive Moai as a cure for leprosy. After witnessing extreme deformities on the face, fingers, arms and hands, the people hoped to build perfect specimens from their perspective. Thus, hoping to undo all the destruction on the sufferers of leprosy.
Ancient Cure
Years Later
However, it’s important to note that there’s a lot more to Easter Island than ancient history. In fact, today, the island is home to a bustling community that has undergone drastic changes all within a lifetime. Just take this tour guide’s story for example. He explained his great-grandmother who is 87 years old, grew up in a cave as a child. Understandably, for a large portion of islanders, seeing the first plane fly over the island was a confusing experience indeed!
Years Later
Island Tourism
Many islanders help give insights on the Rapa Nui culture for tourists, such as this man named Moi. Actually, Moi gives tours with Ancestral Tours, and aims to show tourists how the islanders live through land and water. For water tours, he takes the tourists to Ovahe Beach, where they can snorkel. Together, the group catches fish that the waves wash up and Moi cooks the fish for them, all with the Moai statues guarding over this event.
Island Tourism
Hanga Roa
Today, not all of the inhabitants have actually originated from Easter Island. Out of the entire population, 90 percent lives in Hanga Roa, which is the capital and most lively place in Rapa Nui. As far as infrastructure goes, Hanga Roa has one bank and some private businesses, so a very simple one indeed. Since nature focused tourism is central to the island, they have strict construction laws. However, there are still places for visitors to spend the night.
Hanga Roa
New Accommodations
Speaking of places to stay, with the recent tourism boom, came the Hangaroa Eco Village and Spa. This hotel became the island’s first high-end hotel with its 75 rooms that are inspired by the Rapa Nui people’s original accommodations. Amazingly, each room is powered by solar panels and wind turbines. You can also find clay baths and volcanic rock furniture. Sounds beautiful!
New Accommodations
Changed Landscape
Regardless of all the disagreement on Easter Island theories, there’s one thing historians all concluded. At some time during its history, the island underwent extreme deforestation. Many speculate that the people burned down a large portion of trees so they could clear land and make canoes from the trees. Another theory is that the islanders needed to create transportation tools for the Moai statues. Anyway, now the landscape is completely changed since when it was inhabited.
Changed Landscape
Quite The Trek
With its closest neighbor Pitcairn at 1,200 miles west of Easter Island, this place is extremely remote. At 2,300 miles to the east, Chile is the nearest mainland. Many wonder whether the strenuous trek is worth it? It all comes down to how much you value visiting the great Moai statues. In addition, the island is a wealth of history and natural beauty.
Quite The Trek
Its Name
No, the name Easter Island was not named for its discoverer Jacob Roggeveen. Actually, the Dutch explorer named it Easter Island because he landed there on April 5, 1722, which was Easter Sunday. An official part of the country Chile, the offical name is Isla de Pascua, which translates to the familiar name, Easter Island. However, Rapa Nui is used as another name since it closely resembles the Rapa island, part of the Bass Islands.
Its Name
Story Behind Settlers
Amidst all the competing theories, one 20th century theory has been debunked. This disproved theory suggested that Native Americans from the coast of South America were the original islanders. After extensive research from both linguists and archaeologists, we know this theory to be false. The common belief is that the first islanders were from Polynesian descent. Islanders probably originated from either the Society islands or the Marguesas even as early as 318 AD.
Story Behind Settlers
More On Its Name
However, the Europeans were not the only ones to name this Pacific Island. In the records, Te Pito o Te Henua, meaning “The Center Of the World” stands as the oldest recorded name. Another older name from the islanders was Mata-Ki-Te-Rani, meaning “Eyes Looking at Heaven” in English. It was Tahitian sailors who named it Rapa Nui during the 1860s.
More On Its Name
The Heads Are Misleading
Now, you probably just picture large heads when hearing Easter Island. However, these iconic statues also have full bodies that have been buried in the ground. At times, only the head is seen from the surface level. Many wondered what could be lurking beneath, waiting to be unveiled! Thankfully, the archaeologists’ hard work and excavations revealed more. They found extremely detailed tattoos on the statue bodies. Clearly, there was more than what initially meets the eye.
The Heads Are Misleading
Director Of Excavations Makes Statement
As the director of the Easter Island Statue Project, known as EISP, Jo Anne Van Tilburg led her team to uncover more mysteries surrounding the Moai. Her statement online explained more, “Our EISP excavations recently exposed the torsos of two 7m tall statues. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of visitors to the island have been astonished to see that, indeed, Easter Island statues have bodies! More important, however, we discovered a great deal about the Rapa Nui techniques of ancient engineering.”
Director Of Excavations Makes Statement
Volcanic Location
Perhaps, you did not realize that the island has three extinct volcanoes, with the largest standing 1674 feet high. Actually, the whole island is one large volcano. Rano Kau is the name of the island’s main volcano, which can be found at the Rapa Nui National Park. The ruins of Orongo can be found at the volcano. Oronogo was that village we spoke of where islanders went for ceremonial worship.
Volcanic Location
Disappearance Theory
Some have theorized that rats were responsible for the inhabitant’s disappearance. Historians claimed that a food surplus may have attracted rodents who hid themselves in the first settlers’ canoes. Thus, the rats ate away at vegetation, stunting regrowth and securing their place as a staple of the local diet. Archaeological discoveries of rat bones were seen as support of this theory.
Disappearance Theory
Ultimately Responsible
Again, all conflicting theories aside, most agree that these islanders were ultimately the architects of their ultimate demise, in reference to their inhabitance of the island of course. One theory in particular, states islands cleared forests without realizing the real time it would take for regrowth. In addition the growing population became a problem, since the island seemed too small for the large population.
Ultimately Responsible
Uncovering The Architects
While a lot has been uncovered about the island’s history, there remains one large mystery. Who built the Moai? Well, the most popular theory says that professional carvers that came from the Polynesians’ craft guilds were responsible. However, some theorize that clans worked together on the statues. This theory is supported by the fact that the Rano Raraku quarry was observed to be divided into areas for clans.
Uncovering The Architects
Symbolic Significance
As far as symbolism goes, there are another series of theories. A large amount of archaeologists suggested the statues were symbols of power and authority, but to the inhabitants they were more than mere symbols. The inhabitants looked at the statues as sacred spirits in physical form. While another theory suggests the statues were representations of ancient ancestors who watched over the island, facing the villages with their backs to the ocean.
Symbolic Significance
More Than Just Heads
Maybe we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves. Let’s rewind and review in case you missed something. Of course, many learn of Easter Island during geography in school. Yes, we know that massive heads of stone stand there. However, did you know the statues are referred to as Moai since that’s the Polynesian word for head? On the entire island, 887 Moai have been counted. As we’ve emphasized, they are not just a bunch of heads.
More Than Just Heads
UNESCO Site
Due to these famous Moai, Rapa Nui National Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site over 20 years ago. In fact, a large portion of the island has been designated within the Rapa Nui National Park. Matching the cultural criteria, UNESCO officially named the park a World Heritage Site on March 22, 1996.
UNESCO Site
Powerful Hair
Surprisingly, the Moai statue wore hats! Well, technically this headgear called pukao in Rapa Nui was meant to represent hair. Inhabitants tied this representation of hair around the statue head like a ball. Actually, the practice makes sense when considering chieftains let their hair grow long as well. They believed mana, or supernatural powers, could be linked to a person’s hair. Thus, the men used piles of rocks against the statue to push the hat over the Moai’s head.
Powerful Hair
Spiritual Islanders
It was explorer Jacob Roggeveen who remarked on the spiritual practices of inhabitants during his expedition in 1722. He stated, “they relied in case of need on their gods or idols which stand erected all along the sea shore in great numbers, before which they fall down and invoke them.” In addition, he said priests were especially devoted to the Moai and in general more devout than other islanders.
Spiritual Islanders
Starving Demons
Due to the popularity of the over-sized Moai heads, the Mo’ai Kavakava is often neglected. The tiny wooden figures are lanky and thin men, which came from Easter Island too. It’s not wonder where the name kavakava came from since, it translates to the word ribs. Most believe they symbolized starving demons, which religious men wore during the island’s ritual dances and even community events.
Starving Demons
Protectors
In particular, the Ahu Akivi site stands out when examining the island’s history. There, you can find seven Moai of the same size all facing the sunset of Spring Equinox and facing away from the Autumn Equinox sunrise. These seven Moai stant for the seven protectors who were ordered in a dream by the King’s spirit to wait. They were ordered to wait for the king and the king’s scouts until the group returned from a Pacific Ocean trip.
Protectors
Seeing The Bigger Picture
After years of misconception spreading across the globe, Van Tilburg tried to set the record straight. She said, “the reason people think they are [only] heads is there are about 150 statues buried up to the shoulders on the slope of a volcano, and these are the most famous, most beautiful and most photographed of all the Easter Island statues. This suggested to people who had not seen photos of [other unearthed statues] that they are heads only.”
Seeing The Bigger Picture
The Tallest Of Them All
Of course, the whole sight of Easter Island is amazing. However, we have to mention one outstanding statue from the bunch. If you get a chance to visit the island, be sure to check out Paro. Paro stands as the tallest of the statues at 33 ft high!
The Tallest Of Them All
Years Of Work
The UCLA team of archaeologists hoped to better understand the statues and other artifacts. With hard work and dedication, they uncovered a lot about this island. Thanks to them, we now know about the bodies below those iconic heads. Overall, they documented close to 1,000 statues. This project took around 9 years!
Years Of Work
Why Were They Buried?
Naturally, the statues became buried under rocks and other sediment. Some falsely believed that the people buried them years ago. Once they received approval, the team was able to excavate two of the heads to reveal the torso and waist. Now, it’s believed that mass transport deposits buried the bottom half of the statues. On top of that, you had natural weather and erosion over the centuries.
Why Were They Buried?
Looking To The Evidence
Again, the evidence revealed the true cause of the hidden bodies. After looking in particular at the two statues they excavated, the archaeologists concluded the Rapa Nui did not bury the statues. Due to eroded dirt, the statues were partially hidden. In addition, they discovered the same amount of dirt covering the bottom half of statues to also be sitting in the quarries close to the statues. Thus, confirming their theory.
Looking To The Evidence
Formation Of Easter Island
A lot has been discussed about the creation of the impressive statues, but what about the island itself? Studies reveal that the island was formed by volcanic flows of basalt and also andesite. Then the volcanic tuff, which is a type of rock made from ash, came to rest in the crater. This type of stone was used for carving the statues, and most Moai sit along the Rano Raraku volcanic cone. Experts believe this cone was the quarry which supplied the people with the monoliths they carved.
Formation Of Easter Island
Marking To Reassert Self
As we mentioned, Van Tilburg speculated that each mark on the Maoi was a designated family group that the carver belonged to and marked. She elaborated on the possible reasoning for the carvings, “Over time, it seems, more of these canoes were etched onto the statue in a constant repetition of identity reasserting who they were. As the community lost a sense of identity over time, perhaps they wanted to mark these statues as their own.”
Marking To Reassert Self
Ancient Technology
As the team worked on the two statues, they came across something very crucial to understand the statues. Diggers discovered some evidence of technology that may have been used for moving the statues. Also they believed the statues were transported upright. One of the two statues Van Tilburg and the team excavated was 21 feet tall!
Ancient Technology
Cracking The Case
Van Tilburg found something very interesting, “We found a round, deep post hole into which the Rapa Nui had inserted a tree trunk.” This trunk had ropes attached to it as well. She said, “We found a rope guide that was actually carved into the bedrock near the statue.” Thus, the people used a tree trunk to raise it and before it was fully upright, they carved onto it. Van Tilburg explained that once it stood upright, they finished off the back.
Cracking The Case
Conservation
One of the most important parts of excavating, is the preservation of the artifacts. Thus, Van Tilburg along with Monica Bahamondez, the director of Chile’s National Center of Conservation and Restoration, took care with this step. They used a chemical solution on the surface of the statues and then even filled up the hole again.
Conservation
Working With Locals
Van Tilburg emphasized how important it is to care for these ancient artifacts and the current inhabitants, “Conservation is a really important part of what we’re doing.” She wanted to train the Rapa Nui youth to care for the remaining Moai. In fact, she has already began to put that in place, “The entire staff that I work with on Easter Island are from Rapa Nui. I’m very proud of that.”
Working With Locals