Aku-Aku Eclipse Easter Island July 11th, 2010

Anakena

Anakena is the finest beach on the island, and is said to have been the landing point of King Hotu Matua. The site is home to two moai platforms. The first, Ahu Nau Nau, has seven moai, four with topknots. The site was restored in 1979, and it was in the process of that work that archaeologists discovered that some of the moai were decorated with eyes.

On a hill above Ahu Nau Nau is Ahu Ature Huki, whose lone moai was erected by Thor Heyerdahl and a team of islanders using the materials and techniques he theorised had been used to originally raise the moai.

It is strictly forbidden to touch any of the moai or their platforms, or even to walk on the rock garden “porch” before the platforms. Birds, however, show no such respect.

Islanders are believed to have erected the moai to honour their ancestors, but weren't hesitant to recycle their ancestors in the construction project. This platform at Anakena includes two stones, the one above with a carving from a previous construction, and below, the head of a moai.

by John Walker July 20th, 2010

This document is in the public domain.