Moai, Stone statues at Easter Island, Chile
The Moai are stone statues on Easter Island, with over 900 figures scattered across the coastline and inland areas. They dominate the landscape with their massive bodies, oversized heads, and serious facial expressions that remain visible from considerable distances.
The Rapa Nui people created these monuments between 1250 and 1500, quarrying stone from Rano Raraku and transporting the figures to platforms throughout the island. This intensive production suddenly ceased, leaving questions about social shifts and resource availability during this period.
Each statue represents a specific ancestor of the Rapa Nui people, carved with distinct facial features to honor individual members of the community. Visitors can still read in these stone faces how the islanders made their past visible and expressed their social bonds.
The statues are located at various sites around the island and require different walks depending on location and personal fitness level. It is helpful to gather information on site or use a local guide to plan the best routes and viewing opportunities for your visit.
The figures were originally fitted with coral eyes containing obsidian pupils that were inserted into specially carved eye sockets. This detailed craftsmanship reveals that completed statues appeared far more lifelike than they do today, and visitors can still see traces of these eyes on some examples.
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