What were these people thinking when they decided to carve weird heads into rocks all over a little island in the middle of nowhere?
We have none, Easter Island will probably be a mystery forever.
It is one of the most isolated islands in the world but 1200 years ago a double-hulled canoe filled with seafarers from a distant culture landed upon its shores. Over the centuries that followed a remarkable society developed in isolation on the island. For reasons still unknown they began carving giant statues out of volcanic rock. These monuments, known, as "moai" are some of the most incredible ancient relics ever discovered. The people of Easter Island called themselves the Rapa Nui. Where did they come from and why did they disappear? Science has learned much about the enigma of Easter Island and has put to rest some of the more bizarre theories, but questions and controversies remain. Explore this site to get the latest information on the island's history and current research.
The History
The 1st King:
This sheltered sand beach is close to Anakena, where the legends say King Hoto Matua landed his double hulled canoe, thus beginning the occupation of Easter Island.
The Village:
The first islanders found a lush island, filled with giant palms which they used to build boats and housing. The plants they brought with them did well in the rich volcanic soil and by AD 1550 population on the island hit a high of between 7000 and 9000.
The Beginning:
Easter Island--Rapa Nui is a tiny speck of land in the South Pacific. Formed by a series of massive volcanic eruptions, the island was only inhabited by sea birds and dragonflies for millions of years.
The Line:
Soon ahu with erected moai were installed on all corners of the island, until over one thousand had been carved, and the population of the island also continued to grow. For decades the competition to build the biggest and best moai went on, and different ahu - each belonging to a different clan - formed an almost unbroken line along the coast of Easter Island. The culture had reached its zenith. And then something went terribly wrong . . .
The Moai:
It is unclear why the Easter Islanders turned to statue construction on such a massive scale. The soft volcanic tuff was perfect material for statue carving. The production of the statues was most likely through conscripted labor with many rituals and ceremonies performed throughout the process. They cut down many, many trees in the process of moving the moai.
The Peruvians:
The peruvians came to the island and took more then half the population and sold them into slavery Those who escaped by hiding in the island's many caves were “saved” by missionaries.
The Missionaries:
Some time in the 1800s missionaries came to Easter Island and made fences and ruined all the wooden statues and houses and things like that
The Final Act:
On an island as small as Easter, it was easy to see the effects of the deforestation as it was taking place. But the inhabitants continued their destructive actions. They probably prayed to their gods to replenish the land so they could continue to take from it, but the gods didn't answer. And still the trees came down. Whatever one did to alter that ecosystem, the results were reasonably predictable. One could stand on the summit and see almost every point on the island. The person who felled the last tree could see that it was the last tree. Nonetheless, he (or she) still felled it. This is the really scary part. As our own forests fall to the bulldozers, there are many who are valiantly trying to save them. It is obvious, now that we have satellites showing us the massive deforestation, that there is a serious problem. And yet our leaders — and even the majority of individuals — look on, unconcerned. They appear willing to bulldoze the last trees to build the moai of our time — technology & development. Will we have the sense to reconcile our lifestyles with the well-being of our environment, or is the human personality always the same — as that of the person who felled the last tree?*
*from the book Easter Island-Earth Island
The Rongo Rongo Tablets
Always a mystery. Their weren’t enough of them left for scientists and decoders to decode. Maybe they tell us where their is eighty billion dollars in gold coins. Or maybe they knew the secrets of the universe. But you cant read them and I bet their laughing
