The moai is one of the most iconic pieces of artwork in the world. Instantly recognizable as belonging to Easter Island, there could be no doubt about where we’ve sailed when the first of these stone sculptures came into view.
The moais of Tahai, located just out of town from Hanga Roa. If you squint hard you can see Madrone at anchor to the left of them
Carved out of volcanic rock by the original Polynesian settlers of Easter Island, moai were commissioned by upper class families as a means to worship their ancestors. Once built, the moai were then transported to religious sites known as ahus, where they looked inward over the island.
Many of the moais on the island are like this one that was knocked face down during the huri moai period
Most ahus are located along the coast, and the backs of moai are easily visible from the water. In addition to being beautiful spots in which to worship, the sacred ground of the ahus also served as a way for the wealthy families to control access to the coastline.
All of the moais on this ahu were knocked down- a common site around Easter Island
Moai were first built around 1200, and construction continued until around 1500. At that point, the residents had consumed enough of the island’s natural resources that the society began to break down under the pressure of competition. The huri moai period then ensued, where rival island clans knocked down all of the moai on the island as part of a wider conflict.
Since then, some moai have been restored and placed back on their ahus. But many more remain face down, dotting the volcanic rock cliffs and green hills.
