The mystery of the Easter island heads – 7 interesting facts
12/9/2019
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The production and transportation of these large figures is one of the most unbelievable feats of humanity – and one of the greatest mysteries. Here are 7 little-known facts about the legendary Moai.
#1
Rapa Nui are the aboriginal Polynesian inhabitants of Easter Island, who settled there between 300 and 1200 CE.
#2
The craftsmen used basalt stone hand chisels. About 5-6 people worked on each sculpture.
#3
The Rapa Nui people didn't have cranes, wheels, or even strong animals to help them. At the same time, they were able to move these enormous statues 11 miles (17 km) across the island, given that the heaviest ones weigh more than 70 tons. They may have used wooden sleds, but the exact answer remains unknown.
#4
Most archaeologists agree that the figures symbolize Polynesians’ ancestors, who are watching over the villages.
#5
For many years, most scientists believed the Moai were only heads, but later the archaeologists excavated several statues to find the underlying torso.
#6
Many figures are still to be discovered, so there may actually be more than 1,000 of them.
#7
They can be seen in the museums of Chile, France, Belgium, UK, New Zealand and United States.
Was this information new for you? Would you like to see these statues with your own eyes? Or have you already seen them?
Tell us in the comments!
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33 Comments
Ian Swindale
The ancients who "built" these statues were remarkable just as those who built the Pyramids through Egypt (not just the 2 Giza ones) and Stonehenge were. These structures are all mind-boggling when you think of what must have been involved in their construction.
jofthemtn
John New, it means "current era or commen era" equivalent to AD. Google ce in time, it'll tell you
Diane Allain
Why were statues transported to museums around the world? Isn’t that theft? Doesn’t that compare to the looting of ancient Egyptian tombs by colonial powers?
Satish Chandran
Did they find any skeletons in the island?
Shirish Shah
This was good new information
It is surprising how they moved these heavy
Statues without cranes,.strong animals
Even..wheels.
Cecilia Jorge Greene
Very interesting. It’s also a mystery how Machu Picchu was built
Jim Mascair
I visited Easter Island and it does feel otherworldly. There are more horses there than people and they roam freely about the island, The statues are solemn and surreal.
Patricia M. Culpepper
I would like very much to see these statutes. Not likely as I’m too old to travel. l
Scott
Transportation of these guys from their creation site to their current locations ultimately resulted in cannilbalism and tribal warfare- cutting the trees undermined the entire islands habitats and destroyed their ECO systems -
gbluemoon
John New, Common Era.BCE Befoe Common Era.The replacement of BC and A D.
Lynn Spalding Jr.
John New, Common Era for the politically correct instead of AD
Sally Onyett
Up until now I had believed that they faced out to see to perhaps ward off approaching invaders. Fascinating to read they face inland to perhaps guard the islanders. Hopefully one day I’ll see for myself. 😜
John Dommerman
Thank you for the information, but IMO, the statues can remain on the island, undisturbed as much as possible.
Violetta Ewa Boguslawski
Amazing good to know
Lydia Coutts
John New, BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, meaning ‘In the year of the Lord’) are Christian terms. CE and BCE are considered more inclusive, though I’m not entirely sure why as Christ’s birth is still the determiner.
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