 Moai Statues
Easter Island is most famous for its large stone statues ("Moai") which have been thought to have been erected between 1000 and 1650 CE. They are an average of 12 feet high, weighing 14 tons and carved out of compressed volcanic ash or tuff. There are a total of 887 stone statues (also known as the Easter Island Heads), although they are complete torsos some of the upright moai have become buried up to there necks due to movement of the soils around them. Some people believe the statues to be synbols of political authority and power.
At its peak the population of Easter Island was probably more than 10,000, but this was more than a small island such as this could cope with and once the forests were detroyed, resources became scarce. Social order declined and a there was a bloody civil war and evidence of cannibalism.
Contact with the western world further eroded the island population by introducing slavery and disease. The population has now risen considerably to around 3000 and although there is a chilean presence the polynesian (Rapanui) remains strong.
Interesting Links
Easter Island Videos
|
|
Easter Island
Golden Gate Bridge
Yosemite National Park