Easter Island Part 10--Rano Raraku (part 1)

[urbpan]

Most of the famous stone statues are made from stone from the volcanic cone of Rano Raraku. One of the most striking things about the site is that it seems to have been abandoned, with moai in all stages of construction and relocation, all around the mountain. Though it is thought that it took many years for the change from the moai culture to the later culture to take hold, the impression one gets at Rano Raraku, is that work simply stopped one day--the quarry workers, stonemasons, carvers and transporters all seem to have just cast their tools down and quit. Again, this most likely took place over a period of many years, but the moai are still where they were left, some 500 to 600 years ago.

Approaching the mountain, one can see the moai, still standing, in the distance.






Off to the right the site of Ahu Tongariki is visible. We went there later. (It's neat--the biggest reconstructed site on the island in terms of statues re-erected.)



Another picture for scale shows my father next to a fallen moai.



A trail winds up the mountain. One of the first statues we encounter is named "Tukituri." He is unusual for many reasons. His features are rounded. He has a beard. He is kneeling. "It's said to represent the position of ceremonial singers and is reminiscent of stone carvings elsewhere in Polynesia." (McLaughlin, p.155)







(A contemporary re-carving of Tukituri kneels in front of the Artisan's Market in Hanga Roa)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/cottonmanifesto/Easter%20Island%20and%20Santiago/rapanui08080512.jpg

The moai at Rano Raraku have been buried by time. Many have been left buried to help preserve them. Archaeologists from Heyerdahl on forward have unburied some. One important thing to notice is the eyes. The eyesockets of the moai were left uncarved until they were erected. (Carving out the eyesockets, and then installing the coral eyes made the moai "come to life.") The moai at Rano Raraku have uncarved eyes, indicating that they had not arrived at their destinations yet.



Next: More Rano Raraku, polynesian restaurants and El Gigante.

Comments

[crunchywater.livejournal.com]

I have always wanted to go see them in real life. I cannot even imagine how wonderful it must have been. Your photos are lovely.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It makes me happy to share them.

[artemii.livejournal.com]

it is so cool to see all these places just a few weeks after reading a novel set at them.