Located on the Pacific Ocean 27 degrees south of the Equator line, 2200 miles west of Chilie Beach, there is a very isolated and isolated island in the World. Easter Island.
The island is home to hundreds of giant stone statues is considered as the most mysterious island in the world. The presence of the giant stone statues that surround the island greatly amazed the tourists, archaeologists, and the scientists. However, behind the beauty, Easter Island more save mystery.
Until now, researchers have not been able to know for sure, who created those gigantic statues, and how did they move them.
The name Easter Island itself was a gift from a Dutch sailor in the 18th century, Jacob Roggeveen. In 1722, he and his crew managed to dock on the island, because the day on which they pulled over on the Island coincided with the Easter memorial (Sunday, 5 April 1722) , then the name Easter Island (Easter Island). Roggeveen and his crew were the Europeans who first set foot on the island.
The Moai statues
Its original inhabitants are called Rapanui tribe (rapanui tribe is actually just a migrant tribe), while the real name of Easter Island is Rapa Nui / Rapa Besar.Name Rapa Nui itself has links with other islands in polynesian territory, namely Rapa iti / Rapa small. While Moai is the name for the giant sculptures scattered throughout Easter Island.Moai own meaning of face / face. According to the tales that have been passed down through the Rapanui tribe, the Moai Statue was made by their ancestors.
There are at least three now inaccessible volcanoes (the largest of which is 1674 feet), and according to the indigenous narratives, Moai are carved out of rocks from the rest of the volcanological process (called Rano Rara) of the three volcanoes. The weight of a Moai Statue varies greatly, the lightest weighs 14 tons, and the heaviest can reach 165 tons.
Now, the question archeologists and other researchers is how the tribes who used to inhabit the island to move the large and heavy Moai all over the island? From some tales told by the Rapanui tribe's own elders, The moai were moved by a supernatural force called "manna". With such power, the moai seemed to be able to walk on their own to get to some big stone podiums called "ahu". There are several other theories that try to solve the mystery of this artifact. Some believe that this island is the tip of the land that existed in prehistoric civilization, while others speculate on the involvement of extraterrestrial life. To date, Moai have attracted a large number of researchers seeking to know their origins and secrets.
In Roggeveen's own voyage note, during his visit to Easter Island, he greatly admired the island's mighty beauty for hundreds of years before the Rapanui tribes came to settle.
The Moai who stood mightily around the coastline seemed to be eternal keepers for the island.
There are at least 600 Moai scattered around the perimeter of the island which is complete with the true partner "ahu".
Especially for Moai standing around the coastline on average 33 feet tall with weights of 80 tons each, while for Moai inside the island is very varied.
Beautiful Panorama of Easter Island
Status moai own until now is also still mysterious, actually what the function of the statues they are not known for sure.
But many scholars assume that these Moai are a sign made by their creators in order to show that this island is their territory.
However, those who assume that the Moai is a symbol of a belief. Illustrated, that moai is a symbol for power and power.
Easter island itself is much associated with the Inca civilization, a civilization in South America that has disappeared. According to some theories, it was the Inca people who built the Moai. When viewed from the structure of the rocks, one of Inca's most famous relics of Machu Pichu composition of rocks is very similar to the Moai. But how do the Inca tribes bring this piece to Peru as the base for making Machu Pichu? if it was not the Inca who made it, surely the original inhabitants of Rapa Nui had a very close relationship with them.
Unfortunately well, now many moai that have been destroyed and collapsed
According to a survey of Dutch archaeologist Van Tilburg in 1989, the total number of monolithic statues throughout Easter Island was 887 pieces.
Largest moai:
Location: Rano Raraku Quarry, named "El Gigante"
Height: 71.93 feet, (21.60 meters)
Weight: approximately 145-165 tons (160-182 metric tons)
Largest moai once erect:
Location: Ahu Te Pito Kura, Named "Paro"
Height: 32.63 feet (9.80 meters)
Weight: approximately 82 tons (74.39 metric tons)
Largest moai fallen while being erected:
Location: Ahu Hanga Te Tenga
Height: 33.10 feet (9.94 meters)
Smallest standing moai:
Location: Poike
Height: 3.76 feet (1.13 meters)
Easter Island Map
Statistically the average height of Moai is 13.29 feet (4.05 meters), basic width: 5.25 feet (1.6 meters), head width: 4.86 feet (1.48 meters), Total volume: 210.48 cubic feet (5.96 cubic meters), total weight: 13.78 tonnes (12.5 metric tons)
