The mystery of the Easter island heads – 7 interesting facts

12/9/2019

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Geography Story: The mystery of the Easter island heads – 7 interesting facts

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

Geography Story: The statues were build by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island between the years 1250 and 1500 — shutterstock

Rapa Nui are the aboriginal Polynesian inhabitants of Easter Island, who settled there between 300 and 1200 CE.

#2

Geography Story: Each figure took about a year to complete — shutterstock

The craftsmen used basalt stone hand chisels. About 5-6 people worked on each sculpture.

#3

Geography Story: No one knows exactly how the statues were moved — shutterstock

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

Geography Story: Almost all statues face away form the ocean — shutterstock

Most archaeologists agree that the figures symbolize Polynesians’ ancestors, who are watching over the villages.

#5

Geography Story: They actually have hidden bodies — shutterstock

For many years, most scientists believed the Moai were only heads, but later the archaeologists excavated several statues to find the underlying torso.

#6

Geography Story: There are 887 known statues on the island — shutterstock

Many figures are still to be discovered, so there may actually be more than 1,000 of them.

#7

Geography Story: Some statues have been transported to museums in different parts of the world — wikimedia CC BY-SA

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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What are your thoughts on this subject?

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.