Moai
Moai are iconic large stone humanoid sculptures found exclusively on Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, in the South Pacific. These statues were carved by the island's inhabitants from soft volcanic rock and are believed to represent ancestors, with the intention of invoking their spirits for prosperity and protection over villages. Each moai is unique, typically featuring a large, flat, elongated face and a small, round body, with many adorned with long hair. The statues were primarily constructed at Rano Raraku, the quarry from which the volcanic stone was sourced, and later transported to various locations around the island.
Historically, the creation of moai was restricted to a specific group, with tribes trading goods for these monumental figures, which served as status symbols. The largest moai, nicknamed El Gigante, would have stood an impressive 71 feet tall had it been completed. However, both the statues and Easter Island itself face significant threats from climate change, including rising sea levels and erosion. Awareness of these cultural landmarks and their preservation is crucial in understanding the rich history and heritage of the people of Easter Island.
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Moai
Moai are large stone humanoid sculptures found exclusively on Easter Island, also called Rapa Nui, in the South Pacific Island. Several Indigenous groups lived on the island before Europeans landed there in 1722. The Indigenous people of Easter Island used soft volcanic rock to carve large statues of people, which they placed in areas where the statues could watch over villages. According to local mythology, the moai encouraged the spirits of ancestors to provide prosperity and good fortune.
Because moai are sculpted to look like individuals, each moai is unique. However, most have a large, flat, elongated face and a small, round body. Many have long hair. All moai on Easter Island were built at a single location and then transported to other parts of the island.
Because moai were made of soft volcanic rock, they are now worn and damaged and in constant danger from erosion. Additionally, Easter Island itself is at high risk for damage from climate change.
Background
Moai are found on Easter Island, which is in the Pacific Ocean and consists of roughly 64 square miles of land. It is 2,300 miles from the west coast of Chile, and 2,500 miles east of Tahiti. The island was first discovered by Europeans when Dutch explorers landed there on Easter Sunday in 1722. However, Easter Island was inhabited long before the arrival of the Europeans.
According to folklore, the first ruler of Easter Island was Hoto-Matua, who landed on Anakena, a beach on the island. Archaeologists commonly divide the civilizations of Easter Island into three periods: early, middle, and late. During the early period, which lasted from 700 to 800 BCE, the people of Easter Island began to build large stone statues. Before the middle period, which lasted from 1050 to 1680 BCE, many of the stone statues from the early period were destroyed. During this time, the people of Easter Island created the first large stone heads. Many of these heads still exist today and are the Island’s most famous feature.
During the late period (post-1680 BCE), when the island’s two groups of Indigenous people waged war, many statues were broken. When Europeans first arrived on the island, it was inhabited by about three thousand Indigenous people from one of the two groups. However, within four years of European contact, the number of Indigenous people on the island was reduced to fewer than 750. By the year 1877, slavery and European diseases had reduced the population to fewer than 150 people. In 1888, the Chilean government annexed the island. Despite this, residents of Easter Island did not become full citizens of Chile until 1965.
Overview
Moai are large stone statues of ancestors found exclusively on Easter Island. Almost half the moai in existence remain at Rano Raraku, the large quarry where the people of Easter Island mined the rock to make the moai. More than eight hundred moai from various time periods can be found at Rano Raraku. For this reason, the quarry serves as a record of the changes in moai over time and shows how the carving techniques and tools of the islanders changed throughout the ages.
Most moai are about 13 feet tall, though some are significantly taller or shorter, and weigh 14 tons. Moai are commonly called Eastern Island heads because many were partially buried when they were discovered. The people who first encountered these monuments did not realize that the heads were connected to full statues.
Most moai were made of volcanic stone mined at Rano Raraku. Though some were made of harder rock, these were far less common. The inhabitants of Easter Island lacked metal tools, so carving volcanic rock with stone tools was easier than working with harder materials.
Roughly three-fifths of each moai is the face. The faces were sculpted on a relatively flat plane, with large foreheads and exaggerated features. Each moai face is unique and can be differentiated from others by its facial features and expressions. The rest of the statue constitutes the person’s body, which is normally portrayed as short and round.
Experts believe that moai were carved to represent real people. If a chieftain was well-regarded in life, he might have his likeness carved into a moai after death. The moai would then be transferred to a special location and given a sacred set of coral eyes. The people of Easter Island believed that this turned the statue into a “living face,” encouraging the spirit of the deceased to watch over the people.
Only one group on Easter Island was allowed to make moai. Other families and groups on the island traded many goods for a finished moai. Indigenous people who offered more goods received a larger moai in return. Larger moai were viewed as status symbols and represented prosperity and greatness for the tribe. The largest finished moai was 32 feet tall. One moai, nicknamed El Gigante, was found unfinished. If El Gigante had been competed, it would have stood 71-feet tall and weighed 150 tons.
Both Easter Island and its historic moai are at risk of demise from climate change. As sea levels rise, low-lying islands like Easter Island are in danger of being washed away. As the sea comes closer to the center of the island, the moai are at risk of being damaged by waves and other coastal forces.
Bibliography
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“Discover the Mysteries of Easter Island.” National Geographic, 13 June 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/world-heritage/easter-island. 21 Jan. 2025.
“Easter Island.” History, 5 Sept. 2023, www.history.com/topics/south-america/easter-island. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
“’El Gigante’ and the Moai of Rapa Nui.” Atlas Obscura, 14 Jan. 2010, www.atlasobscura.com/places/el-gigante-and-the-stone-moai-of-easter-island. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
“Moai.” British Museum, www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/contested-objects-collection/moai. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
“Moai Statues.” Easter Island Travel, www.easterisland.travel/easter-island-facts-and-info/moai-statues. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
“Secrets of Easter Island: Stone Giants.” PBS, www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/easter/civilization/giants.html. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.